ETIAS Requirement for Travel to the EU Postponed Until 2027

Key Points to Note

1. The requirement to obtain an ETIAS travel authorisation before visiting the EU is now expected to become mandatory no earlier than April 2027.
2. ETIAS will be introduced in the last quarter of 2026, following the full implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES).
3. A transitional period of six months will be followed by a grace period of another six months, making ETIAS mandatory for most travellers by April 2027 and fully compulsory by October 2027.

ETIAS Implementation Delayed Until 2027

Travellers from visa-exempt countries will not be required to obtain the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) approval until at least April 2027.

According to the EU Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, ETIAS will be introduced in late 2026, following the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES). However, with a planned transitional and grace period, the ETIAS requirement will not become fully mandatory until 2027.

ETIAS is Linked to the Entry/Exit System Rollout

The ETIAS launch is directly tied to the rollout of the EES, which has faced repeated delays. The EU now plans to gradually implement the EES starting in October 2025.

Under this phased approach:

• In the first month, EU countries must register 10% of travellers at border crossings.
• The system can operate without biometric functionalities for the first 60 days.
• By January 2026, biometric functionalities should be in use.
• Full implementation of the EES is expected by April 2026.

ETIAS Introduction Timeline

Once the EES is fully operational, ETIAS will be introduced six months later, around October 2026.

According to the EU Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs:
"Rules of travel to most European countries have changed. Starting six months after EES, around 1.4 billion people from 59 visa-exempt countries will need a travel authorisation to enter 30 European nations for short stays."

Transition and Grace Periods for ETIAS

• October 2026 – April 2027: During this transitional phase, visa-exempt travellers should apply for ETIAS, but those without one may still enter the EU if they meet all other entry requirements.
• April 2027 – October 2027: ETIAS becomes mandatory, except for first-time travellers during this period, who will have an additional six months to comply.
• October 2027: ETIAS becomes fully mandatory for all eligible travellers.

Final Implementation Timeline

With this schedule, ETIAS will become compulsory for most travellers in April 2027 and universally required by October 2027.