The European Union Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs has announced that the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be operational the fourth quarter of 2026. Prior to the announcement, the most recent timeframe for ETIAS to become operational was the first half of 2025.
ETIAS is the new travel registration system for travelers to Europe who possess a passport of a country for which a visa is not required to enter a Schengen country. The system was scheduled to be in place in 2021 but has been delayed several times initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once in effect, U.S. and other travelers to Europe who do not need a visa to visit 30 countries in the Schengen zone and other participating countries will be required to first get approval under the system. The application process is expected to take about 10 minutes and will require applicants to provide their personal background information, a credit card to pay the €7 fee, and an email address to receive a response. If there are no issues with the application or background of the applicant, the system is expected to be able to provide approval within a matter of minutes.
Once approved, the registration is valid for three years. As is currently the policy, travelers will be permitted to spend 90 days in a 180-day period within the Schengen zone. A traveler may enter and leave the zone an unlimited number of times within that period. For periods longer than 180 days, travelers will need to obtain a Schengen visa. There will be an appeal process for those travelers whose applications are denied.
There are 59 countries and territories as well as the United States in which citizens do not need a visa to enter countries comprising the Schengen zone and who will be required to receive approval under ETIAS.
In addition to ETIAS, the EU is launching a new digital entry system known as the Entry/Exit System (EES), which is expected to be operational in October of this year. EES will replace the traditional stamping of a passport by a border agent with a self-service kiosk in which the traveler will scan their own passport. The system is intended to improve security and better allow the EU to know if travelers stay longer than allowed.
While the new requirement should not be too burdensome for most travelers, not registering with ETIAS prior to traveling to Schengen countries could result in not being able to board transportation to the EU.