ETIAS Delayed Again, Now Targeting 2027

If you have held off applying for ETIAS because you heard it would be required this year, you can keep waiting. The EU has confirmed a 2026 launch is no longer possible, with the working target now pushed back to 2027, the latest in a long run of delays for a system originally due in 2021. Here is why the delay happened, what ETIAS will actually involve once it launches, and what it means for your travel plans in the meantime.

What ETIAS is meant to do

ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is a pre-travel screening requirement for non-EU nationals who currently do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area, according to the European Commission. Once live, it will cover 30 European countries, the Schengen zone plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, and permit stays of up to 90 days in any 180 day period. Applications will be entirely digital, cost 20 euros, and remain valid for three years or until the traveller's passport expires, whichever comes first. Children under 18 and adults over 70 will be exempt, along with some family members of EU citizens.

A long history of delays

The system was first legislated in 2018 and originally due to launch in 2021. It has since slipped repeatedly, first to 2022, then 2023, 2024, and 2025, before a firmer fourth quarter 2026 target was set in early 2025, Fragomen notes. That target has now also been missed, and the launch is delayed indefinitely as of August 2026, with the working target moved to 2027.

Why ETIAS has been delayed again

The delay comes down to IT integration problems between ETIAS and the EU's separate Entry and Exit System, which is meant to work alongside it at the border, according to Euronews. The Entry and Exit System itself began a phased rollout in October 2025, with full implementation originally targeted for April 2026, but it has struggled since launch. A December 2025 report found border processing times up 70 percent at peak, with waits of up to three hours reported at airports in France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, while only around a tenth of eligible travellers were even being registered under the system. By February 2026, EU authorities were allowing airports to partially suspend Entry and Exit System checks during peak periods, an early sign that the system was not ready to have ETIAS stacked on top of it.

In July 2026, EU officials reportedly confirmed a fourth quarter 2026 launch was no longer achievable, citing unresolved technical issues between the two systems, per Forbes. Officials were due to meet again in September 2026 to agree a firmer timeline. The European Commission has said it will only confirm an exact launch date a few months before the system goes live, giving advance warning once a date is finally set.

What this means for non-EU travellers right now

For non-EU nationals flying privately into the Schengen area, nothing changes for now. Your passport and visa rules stay exactly as they are today, with no new application required at this stage.

What to do while you wait

For frequent flyers, the practical guidance for now is simple. Continue travelling under your existing passport and visa arrangements, and do not register for ETIAS through unofficial third party websites, since the system is not yet accepting applications and no legitimate site can register you early. We will confirm the moment a firm launch date is announced, along with what it will mean for your travel planning ahead of next year's peak season.

Sources

• European Commission: European Travel Information and Authorisation System
• Forbes: Travelling to Europe, ETIAS is delayed as EES queues bite
• Euronews: Europe has officially delayed the roll out of the ETIAS travel permit
• Euronews: EU Entry/Exit System rollout leaves passengers waiting up to 3 hours at airports
• Fragomen: ETIAS launch delayed