The European Council’s home affairs council has announced it would roll out the Etias scheme in the last quarter of 2026 and allow a six-month grace period, meaning that travellers from non-EU countries such as the UK won’t need to pay the €7 (£6) visa at least until early 2027.
Meanwhile, the Entry-Exit System (EES) – the bloc’s new biometric border rules – will come into force from October 2025 after years of delays.
Once in place the EES will take the form of an automated IT system and will replace passport stamping.
Travellers crossing into the bloc from non EU-countries will have to submit to biometric checks – facial images and fingerprints – when they cross external Schengen borders.
In the UK, checks will take place at sea ports and international rail ports such as London St Pancras station and Folkestone, while air travel checks will take place at each EU arrival airport.
The EU’s decision to phase the rollout of EES and Etias comes after France, Germany and the Netherlands wrote to the then-EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson, telling her they would not be able to implement the EES from mid-November due to a lack of testing.
This latest delay has prompted some travel industry professionals to publicly criticise the confusion around the launch.
“The EES was originally scheduled to launch in 2022, followed by the Etias in 2023, however, both systems have faced continual delays, including today’s latest postponement announcement,” said Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said.
“It is crucial that authorities now commit to the latest timeline rather than continuing with recurrent delays, or alternatively, reconsider whether the ambition is beyond implementation.”
David Amsellem, the chief executive of B2B luxury travel platform The Luxurist, said: “The news that the Etias travel authorisation is set to be delayed further, is bound to cause further confusion among consumers.
"Booking through a trusted travel advisor is highly recommended as they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities surrounding the new border force processes, taking the stress out of travelling for holidaymakers.
"Using a travel advisor who combines their own knowledge with AI technology means they have access to the latest updates in real time, ensuring a seamless booking process.”
