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ETIAS launch timeline
ETIAS has been delayed half a dozen times since 2018. Here's every major milestone and the current path to the Q4 2026 launch.
ETIAS first proposed
April 2016The European Commission first proposed an EU travel authorisation system, modelled on the US ESTA.
ETIAS regulation adopted
September 2018The EU formally adopted Regulation 2018/1240 establishing ETIAS. Initial launch target: 2021.
First delay
2021Launch pushed to end-2022 due to IT-system delays at eu-LISA, the agency building the platform.
Second delay
2022Launch rescheduled to May 2023 to align with the Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout.
Third delay
2023Launch pushed to 2024, then to mid-2025, then to a 6-month period after EES went live.
EES launches
October 2025The Entry/Exit System began phased rollout at EU external borders, replacing passport stamping with biometric registration.
ETIAS launch (current target)
Q4 2026Official ETIAS launch in the final quarter of 2026, with a 6-month transitional period during which travel without ETIAS is still permitted. The €20 fee will apply from the start.
ETIAS fully mandatory
Mid-2027 (expected)After the transitional grace period, ETIAS will be strictly enforced. Travellers without a valid authorisation will be denied boarding.
Why has ETIAS been delayed so often?
The main blocker has been the IT dependency chain. ETIAS shares infrastructure with the Entry/Exit System (EES), the Visa Information System (VIS), and the Schengen Information System (SIS). All four had to be upgraded in sequence, and EES itself slipped multiple times before going live in October 2025.
Member-state border-control readiness is the other factor. Airports, ferry terminals, and land borders all need new biometric kiosks and trained staff before ETIAS can be enforced at scale.