ETIAS: After EES chaos, will Europe’s new €20 journey authorisation system be delayed?

It’s been a tricky few months for Europe’s tourism trade, with travellers going through main delays on the borders as a result of introduction of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES).

Now, the launch of a separate scheme – the brand new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) – is also going through delays, based on the UK’s Financial Times, after the “chaotic rollout” of the EES digital border-check system “disrupted visits to the bloc”.

The launch of ETIAS, a brand new on-line system to pre-authorise entry to the EU, is about to be delayed till 2027, the FT reported. While the ETIAS website states that operations will begin within the final quarter of 2026, and has not formally been postponed, the FT says it’s “unlikely to be rolled out this year”.

Similar to the US ESTA system, ETIAS will see candidates pay €20 and endure pre-travel safety checks.

Even when ETIAS operations begin, a transitional interval of not less than six months is deliberate. The EU says that “travellers should apply for their travel authorisation in this period, but those without one will not be denied entry if they fulfil the remaining entry conditions”.

‘Let’s clear up EES first’

Following “technical glitches” and the “slow deployment” of EES, the company in command of implementing ETIAS, EU-Lisa, has “acknowledged that launching it by the end of this year as planned was no longer feasible”, the FT mentioned.

Quoted by the newspaper, an individual briefed on the discussions mentioned there have been “still some IT issues” with ETIAS, however the focus needs to be on EES proper now. “Let’s clean up EES first before you put another system that will double the line again,” they mentioned.

Meanwhile, one other particular person remarked that launching the ETIAS this 12 months was “illusory”.

EES ‘not perfect’ however gained’t be suspended

The EES grew to become absolutely operational throughout the Schengen space in April 2026, changing passport stamping for many non-EU travellers with a digital system that information entries and exits alongside biometric information, together with fingerprints and facial photographs.

The system is designed to strengthen border safety, determine visa overstayers and streamline exterior border administration. However, Europe’s aviation trade says the rollout is having the alternative impact at many airports.

On 1 July, aviation organisations ACI EUROPE, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued an pressing enchantment to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning that the rollout of EES had reached a “critical point” and is inflicting extreme disruption for tens of millions of travellers.

With only a week to go earlier than the height summer season vacation season begins, the EU has rejected calls to droop EES though it admits there are “20 difficult spots” with queue chaos, The Guardian reported. EU officers mentioned that whereas EES was “not perfect”, a full suspension was “not needed” and “not possible”.

What is the ETIAS?

Under the ETIAS guidelines, travellers who don’t want a visa from non-EU nations – together with the UK, Australia, the US and Canada – must get hold of authorisation earlier than quick stays within the Schengen Area.

This would require guests to finish an internet software, present private particulars, reply safety questions and pay a payment. This authorisation will probably be linked to the traveller’s passport and will probably be legitimate for 3 years or till the passport expires.

Travellers from 60 non-EU nations might want to adjust to the ETIAS, however there are some exceptions. The €20 payment will probably be waived for youngsters below 18 and adults over 70, though they’ll nonetheless want to use for authorisation.

It will apply to 30 European nations – all EU states besides Ireland plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.