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ETIAS, the online pre-authorisation that non-EU visitors (e.g. US citizens) will eventually need before travelling to most of Europe, has been pushed back once more. The official ETIAS website still says the system will start in the last quarter of 2026, but that is not going to happen.
Here’s what ETIAS is, how it differs from the EES system already in place, and why the launch has been delayed … again.
What ETIAS is
ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It’s an electronic visa waiver for people who don’t currently need a visa to enter the Schengen Area, the group of 29 European countries that have agreed to open borders between them.
It works much like the ESTA the United States requires, or the UK’s own ETA. You apply online before you travel, and the system pre-screens you before you board. It is not a visa, and the EU is careful to make that distinction.
When this is finally live, the application process should take no more than 15 minutes (apparently) and will require a valid passport, an email address, and a credit or debit card for the fee.
Applicants will be asked about their travel history, any relevant health conditions, and any criminal background related to offences such as terrorism or fraud (who’s going to own up?!). Approval can take up to 30 days, but it’s unlikely to take anywhere near as long (I’d expect it to take minutes or hours), but this still isn’t something to leave until you’re at the airport.
Once granted, an ETIAS authorisation costs €20 (~$23) and lasts three years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
How ETIAS differs from EES
The two systems are separate, so it’s worth being clear on which does what, because some people appear to confuse them.
EES, the Entry/Exit System, is about recording people at the border. It began its progressive roll-out in October 2025 and became fully operational (per the EU) on 10 April 2026. It requires non-EU travelers to scan their fingerprints and face at the border itself, replacing the old passport stamp. It happens when you arrive.
ETIAS is about screening people before they travel. You apply online in advance, and the system decides whether to authorise your trip before you get on the plane. It happens before you leave.
In short: ETIAS is the pre-travel application, EES is the check at the border. ETIAS was always designed to follow EES, not replace it.
Why it has been delayed
The delay comes down to EES not working smoothly. Since becoming fully operational in April, EES has mostly been a mess and has often produced border queues of up to five hours.
Travel officials from various EU states have been so concerned that these delays could get worse over the peak summer period that some countries have suspended EES completely and are almost ignoring its existence.
Unsurprisingly, there’s little appetite for a second new system on top of one that’s already not working as expected, so until the EES issues are ironed out, ETIAS probably won’t be brought online.
According to the Financial Times, EU-Lisa, the agency responsible for delivering ETIAS, has acknowledged that starting the system by the end of 2026 is no longer feasible, and confirmed that as well as the issues surrounding EES, there are also some outstanding IT issues with ETIAS itself.
EU-Lisa’s management board met in mid-June to discuss postponing the launch, and is due to meet again in September to consider a new timeline.
Bottom line
ETIAS still isn’t live, and despite what the official site currently says about a last-quarter-2026 start, that’s not going to happen. The launch is now expected at some point in 2027, with a firmer timeline likely after EU-Lisa’s September meeting.
For now, nothing changes for travellers – EES is the system you’ll have at the border if the country you’re visiting is using it, and ETIAS is nothing to concern yourself about for now.
