Anyone planning a European trip for the winter or for next summer can stop worrying about one piece of paperwork, at least for now. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), the online travel permit that visa-exempt visitors will eventually need for most of Europe, no longer has a launch date.
ETIAS had been scheduled to start in the final quarter of 2026. Speaking at the Travel Convention in Madeira this week, Abta's director of public affairs, Luke Petherbridge, said "there is now no official launch date for the Etias system", adding that an update was expected in the coming months, according to Travel Weekly. The UK travel association also warned that more than 150 websites were already offering to sell ETIAS authorisations, even though nobody can apply yet.
What ETIAS is, and what the official site says now
ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation for travellers who do not need a visa to visit Europe. Nationals of countries such as the UK, the US, Canada and Australia fall into this group. When it starts, they will fill in an online form, pay a fee and receive an authorisation linked to their passport before they fly.
The official EU website is clear about where things stand. It says ETIAS "is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point", and that the EU will announce the start date "several months prior to its launch". The same site lists the key details of the future scheme:
- It will cover visa-exempt travellers entering 30 European countries.
- The application fee is listed as EUR 20.
- It will allow short stays of up to 90 days.
Travel Weekly reports that travellers under 18 and over 70 will not have to pay the fee, though they will still need to apply.
Why it has slipped
ETIAS is being introduced after Europe's other big border change, the Entry/Exit System (EES). According to the European Commission, the EES began a progressive rollout on 12 October 2025 and became fully operational on 10 April 2026. It registers non-EU short-stay visitors' names, passport details, fingerprints and facial images each time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries, and it has replaced passport stamping.
The EES rollout has not been smooth. Abta has called for contingency measures, which let border authorities suspend biometric checks when queues build up, to continue into 2027 if needed. Its chief executive, Mark Tanzer, described the rollout as still feeling "quite patchy", with travellers sometimes sent through e-gates after their biometric checks and at other times back to manual passport control. Travel Weekly linked the ETIAS delay to those EES problems. Some outlets, including Ireland's Travel Extra, now say a launch before 2027 looks unlikely. The EU itself has not confirmed a new timetable.
The scam problem
A gap with no official date is ideal for fraudsters. Abta says more than 150 websites offer ETIAS authorisations, and Travel Extra reports that some copy the look of official EU sites, use countdown timers or claim that "pre-registration" places are limited.
The rule is simple: if you can buy an ETIAS today, it is not real. No official system is accepting applications. When ETIAS does open, applications will go through the official EU website or its mobile app.
Practical tips for travellers
- Do not pay anyone for ETIAS now. If you already have, contact your card issuer about a chargeback and keep screenshots of the site and the payment.
- Bookmark the official source. The EU's ETIAS site at travel-europe.europa.eu is the place to check. A start date will be announced there months in advance.
- Prepare for EES instead. If you are not an EU citizen, your first entry under the EES involves fingerprints and a facial image. Allow extra time at airports, ferry ports and land crossings, especially at peak times.
- Check passport validity anyway. Normal Schengen rules on passport validity still apply, and neither EES nor ETIAS changes the 90-days-in-180 limit on short stays.
- Tell older and younger family members. When ETIAS arrives, children and over-70s will still need their own application even though they pay nothing.
FAQ
Do I need an ETIAS for a trip to Europe this winter? No. ETIAS is not operating, and the EU says no applications are being collected.
How much will ETIAS cost? The official EU site lists a EUR 20 application fee. Abta says under-18s and over-70s will be exempt from paying.
When will ETIAS start? There is no official date. The EU says it will announce the start several months before launch. Some reports say it is unlikely before 2027.
Is the EES the same as ETIAS? No. The EES is a biometric border registration that has been fully operational since April 2026. ETIAS is a separate online authorisation that will be added later.
Sources
- Travel Weekly: Abta warns of scam Etias websites as launch date still unclear (13 October 2026)
- Official EU ETIAS website
- European Commission: Entry/Exit System (EES)
- European Commission: European Travel Information and Authorisation System
- Travel Extra: ETIAS launch delayed again as border control warns of scam sites (14 October 2026)
