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.
