EU Postpones ETIAS Launch Date Again

ETIAS aims to require travelers from non-EU countries who can enter the EU without a visa to obtain a special permit for a short stay in the Schengen area.

The system will be implemented with a transition period of about six months, meaning registration will not be mandatory immediately: full launch is only expected in 2027.

To obtain an ETIAS authorization, you must complete an online application, provide personal information, answer a few questions, and pay a fee of €7. The authorization will be linked to the traveler’s passport and valid for three years or until the expiration of the identity document.

The fee does not apply to minors and people over 70. However, they will still need to fill out a form.

The integration of the ETIAS system is inextricably linked to the implementation of the EES entry/exit system – without it, the ETIAS travel authorization system will not work.

The implementation of the entry/exit system has been postponed several times. The EU has decided to gradually roll out the EES, with the system set to be operational at several borders in October 2025.