Our travelers with plans to bounce the ponds into Europe this year can sigh in relief. They don’t have to worry about getting approved and paying for the new European Travel Information and Approval System (ETIAS).
“Etias will begin operations in the last quarter of 2026,” says a new update on the official European Union Etias site. “At this point, no action is required from travelers. The European Union will notify you of a specific date of ETIAS launch several months prior to launch.”
The Council of Europe met last week to establish that the Digital Border Management System (EES), a prerequisite for ETIAS launch, will be deployed for six months, but during the meeting there is no exact date set for when the EES system will be deployed. It seems to have pushed Ethias back quite a bit. In this past fall, European institutions said that Etias’ entry system will one day be in operation in the first half of 2025.
Initially, Etias was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2021, but is now a few delays. Once it is released, US citizens (and travelers from 60 other countries) who want to travel to 29 member countries of the Schengen zone in Europe must register with ETIAS and pay a non-refundable application fee of 7 EUR before entering Europe. (Travelers under the age of 18 or over 70 will be exempt from the fee, but still require ETIAS approval.)
Etias is being developed in conjunction with the European Future Entry/Exit System (EES). This is an electronic system that tracks visitors across borders. EES installation is a prerequisite for ETIAS to work.
According to the Council of Europe, EES was recently scheduled to launch service at the end of 2024. “Because this deadline was not met, the committee proposed a phased start due to concerns that a full system launch could constitute a risk factor for the resilience of the IT system, and the update.
When fully operational, EES collects traveler biometric data, such as facial images and fingerprints. The council explained that the system allows EU member border security agencies to access international traveller data and travel history, allowing them to quickly check whether they are compliant with their approved length of stay in the Schengen region. “As a result, EES will significantly reduce the likelihood of identity fraud and overstaying and strengthen the security of the Schengen region,” the council said.
In the meantime, international travelers arriving in Europe can proceed as usual.
However, a similar electronic travel approval (ETA) was launched for US travelers entering the UK on January 8th. Travelers must apply for a UK ETA via the ETA app. You can check the steps online for how to download the app. Provide basic personal information such as passport details and a valid email address, upload your passport and face photo, pay the fee of £10, and receive approval within 3 business days and valid for 2 years. There is no limit to how many times you can enter the UK during that time frame. ETAs can spend up to six months at a time in the country and visit any part of the UK, but if they have obtained a new passport, they will need to reapply for a new ETA. For passengers connecting the UK, an ETA is required only if they pass through border control.
“If you don’t pass UK border control, you don’t need an ETA. You will need to bring evidence of progress, such as tickets to your destination. Travelers leaving the main airport building for any reason, or those who need to collect luggage and check in, will pass through border control. Authorities recommend checking with the airline to see if they will pass UK border control. Therefore, you will need an ETA.
