Skip to content

More pages

ETIAS News & Updates

Latest updates and announcements

Get ETIAS launch updates

We’ll email you when ETIAS opens for applications.

ETIAS Timeline & Milestones

  1. 2016

    2016

    ETIAS system proposed by the European Commission

  2. 2018

    2018

    ETIAS regulation adopted by the EU Parliament

  3. Jul 2025

    Jul 2025

    ETIAS fee increased from €7 to €20

  4. Oct 12, 2025

    Oct 12, 2025

    Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout begins

  5. Apr 10, 2026

    Apr 10, 2026

    EES fully operational at all Schengen external borders

  6. Jul 2026

    Jul 2026

    EU removes the "last quarter of 2026" launch target from the official ETIAS site

  7. Sep 2026

    Sep 2026

    eu-LISA management board expected to consider a revised timetable

  8. 2027 (expected)

    2027 (expected)

    ETIAS goes live and applications open. No official date confirmed

  9. ~6 months post-launch

    ~6 months post-launch

    Transitional period ends (encouraged, not mandatory)

  10. ~12 months post-launch

    ~12 months post-launch

    Full ETIAS enforcement begins

Current Status

The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational at all Schengen external borders since 10 April 2026. ETIAS is the next phase, and it has not launched.

In July 2026 the European Union removed its earlier "last quarter of 2026" target from the official ETIAS website, which now states only that the system is not in operation. No replacement date has been published and no formal announcement was made. The EU has said it will announce a start date several months before ETIAS goes live, and a revised timetable is expected once eu-LISA, the agency building the system, meets in September 2026.

The ETIAS application portal is not open, and it will not open before the system goes live. Nobody can apply for ETIAS today.

Quick Status

Launch Date
2027 (expected)

No official date confirmed

Applications
Not Open

Open only when ETIAS goes live

Fee
€20

Confirmed (raised from €7)

EES Status
Operational

Since 10 April 2026

What to Expect

Official announcements about ETIAS will come from:

  • European Commission — Policy decisions and launch confirmation
  • eu-LISA — Technical updates and system readiness
  • Council of the European Union — Regulatory updates
  • Frontex — Border implementation guidance

We monitor these sources and will update this page with any significant news.

Official Sources to Follow

  • eu-LISA — IT agency managing ETIAS (eulisa.europa.eu)

  • European Commission Home Affairs — Migration and security policy

  • Council Press Releases — Official EU decisions

  • travel-europe.europa.eu/etias — Official ETIAS portal (when active)

Recent Updates

July 2025: The European Commission confirmed the ETIAS fee increase from €7 to €20.

10 April 2026: The Entry/Exit System became fully operational at all Schengen external borders, a prerequisite for ETIAS. Airlines reported queues of up to three hours at peak times through the following months.

July 2026: The EU quietly removed the "last quarter of 2026" launch window from the official ETIAS website. The page now says only that the system is not in operation, and that a start date will be announced several months in advance.

September 2026: eu-LISA's management board is expected to consider a revised ETIAS timetable.

Prepare for ETIAS

Official Website

The only legitimate portal

Requirements

Check if you need ETIAS

How to Apply

Application guide

News FAQs

When exactly will ETIAS launch?
No date is confirmed. The EU dropped its "last quarter of 2026" target in July 2026 and has not replaced it. Officials say a start date will be announced several months in advance, and a revised timetable is expected after eu-LISA's management board meets in September 2026. Most observers now expect 2027.
Why has ETIAS been delayed?
ETIAS depends on the Entry/Exit System (EES), which only became fully operational in April 2026 and caused long border queues through the following summer. Reporting in July 2026 indicated that eu-LISA had internally accepted a 2026 start was no longer achievable.
Will there be a grace period?
Yes. After ETIAS launches there is a transitional period of roughly six months where ETIAS is encouraged but travelers without one can still enter if they meet all other requirements. A further grace period follows for first-time arrivals, so strict enforcement begins about 12 months after launch.
How will I know when to apply?
Subscribe to our newsletter above. We'll notify you as soon as the EU announces a start date and the official portal opens. You can also check travel-europe.europa.eu/etias periodically.

Related Information

Schengen Visa Guide

For nationalities needing a visa

Schengen Area Guide

Countries covered by ETIAS

UK ETA

UK ETA is already operational

Check Your Requirements

Find out what you need

Change language