EU Postpones ETIAS Requirement Until 2027

Name: EU Postpones ETIAS Requirement Until 2027 | IaM (Immigration and Migration)
Uploaded: 2025-03-15T16:00:00+00:00
Description: Foreign nationals enjoying visa-free entry to the EU will not need to obtain travel authorisation through the

Charlie ETIAS 15 March 2025 | Updated On March 24, 2025 | 0

Foreign nationals enjoying visa-free entry to the EU will not need to obtain travel authorisation through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) until at least April 2027.

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs has stated that ETIAS is expected to be rolled out by the last quarter of 2026. However, due to a transitional grace period, the mandatory requirement for travellers to apply for ETIAS will only come into effect in 2027.

The implementation of ETIAS is tied to the rollout of the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES). After multiple delays, the EU has committed to gradually launching the EES in October 2025. This phased rollout will allow EU member states to introduce the new border system over six months.

If the EES is launched in October 2025, it is expected that, by the first month, at least 10% of travellers crossing the border will be registered. Initially, the system will operate without biometric features for the first 60 days, but by January 2026, biometric functionalities will be mandatory across all member states, with full implementation expected by April 2026.

Officials have clarified that ETIAS is not a visa and will not introduce visa-like restrictions for travelers. Rather, it is a security measure aimed at enhancing European border controls while maintaining smooth entry for tourists and business visitors.

ETIAS to Be Introduced After EES is Fully Implemented

ETIAS will be introduced once the EES is fully operational, with an estimated launch in October 2026. Following that, citizens from 60 visa-exempt countries and territories—about 1.4 billion people—will need ETIAS approval to travel to 30 European nations for short stays.

During the initial six-month period after the EES implementation, ETIAS will be optional. This transitional period, running from October 2026 to April 2027, will allow visa-exempt travellers to enter the Schengen Area without ETIAS, provided they meet other entry requirements.

Starting in April 2027, however, ETIAS will be compulsory for all travellers, except for those who enter the EU for the first time after the transitional period. This group will have a six-month grace period, lasting until October 2027.

Thus, ETIAS will become mandatory for most visa-exempt travellers by April 2027, and fully mandatory for all by October 2027. British travellers should prepare for new EU travel requirements, such as the EES in 2025 and the ETIAS in 2027, which will introduce biometric checks and travel authorisations.

How the ETIAS Delay Impacts Travellers

For now, citizens of visa-exempt countries—including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia—can continue traveling to the 30 European countries covered by ETIAS without needing prior travel authorisation. This means:

No additional application or travel fees for short-term visits until at least the end of 2026.
Seamless travel for tourists, business visitors, and students without new entry requirements.
No need to provide extra documentation beyond a valid passport.

The EU has reassured travellers that no immediate action is required. An official ETIAS launch date will be announced several months before implementation.

This delay provides temporary relief for those planning European trips, sparing them from additional costs and bureaucratic hurdles—for now.

Despite the ETIAS delay, existing Schengen visa policies remain in effect, requiring travellers to comply with current entry conditions.

After multiple delays, will the EU successfully implement its digital border checks, or are more setbacks on the horizon? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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