"Holidaymakers Can Put ETIAS Out of Mind" Travel Expert Says
Holiday Extras
British holidaymakers across Europe this summer are already dealing with the hassle caused by EES.
But there is some good news, as it looks like the incoming ETIAS has been pushed from its original 2026 date.
Seamus McCauly, Head of Public Affairs at Holiday Extras said: "There's a rare piece of good news buried in this year's border shake-up. ETIAS, the EU's forthcoming €20 pre-travel authorisation for UK and other visa-exempt visitors, was due to land on top of EES in the last quarter of 2026. The EU agency building the system, eu-LISA, has told officials that a 2026 launch is no longer realistic. The European Commission hasn't confirmed a new date, it has simply removed "last quarter of 2026" from the official ETIAS website.
"A firmer timeline is not expected until eu-LISA's board meets again in September. The industry now generally expects ETIAS to drop in 2027 at the earliest. For UK travellers, the practical upshot is straightforward: you won't need to add a second layer of paperwork and fees on top of EES for at least a few more months, and probably not until next year. Given how difficult EES itself has been, that's one part of Europe's new border regime holidaymakers can, for now, safely put out of mind."
