Electronic authorisation required for EU travel from 2025

[OZDUCK]

Anyone seen any update on the European version? Due to start in May but has been delayed already a few times.

Would seem that it possibly may, but probably not, come in late this year but no time frame announced. The official site says

ETIAS is currently not in operation and will not start in the first half of 2025. The European Union will inform about the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch.​

-

EES / ETIAS - European Union

travel-europe.europa.eu

 

[I love to travel]

Anyone seen any update on the European version? Due to start in May but has been delayed already a few times.

I believe delayed until next year.

 

[RB001]

Anyone seen any update on the European version? Due to start in May but has been delayed already a few times.

One can quite reliably say definitely not May, therefore almost zero chance of it being required in 2025.
It's the EU, so there's a process - EES needs to be running first for a number of months, and even it doesn't have a confirmed start date! Only then will the ETIAS process begin; even then there will be a transition period.

 

[AIRwin]

6 months after October 2025:

Revised timeline for the EES and ETIAS

The rules for visa-free travel to Europe will change for travellers coming from 59 countries and territories. Find out below what the first year of ETIAS will look like in practice.

travel-europe.europa.eu

 

[AIRwin]

Would seem that it possibly may, but probably not, come in late this year but no time frame announced. The official site says

ETIAS is currently not in operation and will not start in the first half of 2025. The European Union will inform about the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch.​

-

EES / ETIAS - European Union

travel-europe.europa.eu

Some previous discussions on ETIAS in this thread - last quarter of 2026:

Post in thread 'Electronic authorisation required for EU travel from 2025'

Mar 9, 2025

6 months after October 2025:

Revised timeline for the EES and ETIAS

The rules for visa-free travel to Europe will change for travellers coming from 59 countries and territories. Find out below what the first year of ETIAS will look like in practice.

travel-europe.europa.eu

• AIRwin

 

[kpc]

"ETIAS is expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026."

This is the one that really matters....pushed back even further!

 

[clifford]

"ETIAS is expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026."

This is the one that really matters....pushed back even further!

Well, it is the EU. Even the Brits have got theirs up and running.

 

[FlyingFiona]

Even the Brits have got theirs up and running.

The Brits are good are getting up and running...

 

[p--and--t]

Delayed yet again to 2026

https://loyaltylobby.com/2025/03/15/european-etias-eu-travel-authorization-implementation-delayed-again-until-late-2026/

 

[RB001]

Update:

Not really an update on the timeline - Q4 2026. (Note: this thread started in 2018!)

What has changed is the fee - now €20 for those eligible to pay.

EES / ETIAS - European Union

travel-europe.europa.eu

 

[I love to travel]

Update:

Not really an update on the timeline - Q4 2026. (Note: this thread started in 2018!)

What has changed is the fee - now €20 for those eligible to pay.

EES / ETIAS - European Union

travel-europe.europa.eu

How much was it before?

 

[kpc]

Update:

Not really an update on the timeline - Q4 2026. (Note: this thread started in 2018!)

What has changed is the fee - now €20 for those eligible to pay.

EES / ETIAS - European Union

travel-europe.europa.eu

The longer the delay the better. My next European trip is June / July 2026 so before the ETIAS starts

 

[RB001]

How much was it before?

Originally €7.

 

[I love to travel]

Originally €7.

Wow that is quite a hike then. Just guessing here but maybe the hold out countries insisted on more money to agree to participate. Let's hope that they keep arguing for a few more years!!

 

[clifford]

Here's perhaps a slightly more down to earth article on what's going on with EU Land.

What will the EU’s new entry-exit system mean for British travellers?

Under the entry-exit system, British travellers to the Schengen Area can expect to be fingerprinted and provide a facial biometric

www.independent.co.uk

Yes, the updated proposed fee is a bit of a turn off, but it won't bother me or my wife as we're over their age limit.

 

[markis10]

Next week sees the introduction of new formalities in the EU

Travellers entering the Schengen area for the first time after the new system is introduced will need to answer questions, and have their fingerprints and photo taken.

When visitors return to the Schengen area within three years of creating their digital record they will only need to provide their fingerprint or photograph when they enter and exit at the border.

The Schengen area is made up of 29 European countries that allows travellers to move freely between Schengen countries without going through border controls or requiring a visa for each country.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/new-international-travel-rules-for-europe-coming-into-effect/news-story/15e0a540f913835b7914e9415da67ac9

 

[Cossie]

That's a bit of a bugger, I get into Munich next Sunday which is the 12th.....

 

[Himeno]

So this is just an EU US VISIT type system? Not the planned EU ESTA version yet?

 

[RB001]

This phase is EES (Entry Exit System), scheduled to take until at least late April - progressively including more countries as they come online in the new system, before ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) kicks in towards the end of 2026.
Even when ETIAS goes live, there's a grace period if it's your first visit since go-live.

EES / ETIAS - European Union

travel-europe.europa.eu