Quick Answer
ETIAS has not launched yet, and as of September 2026 there is no confirmed start date. The European Union removed its “last quarter of 2026” target from the official ETIAS website in July 2026, with 2027 now the more realistic expectation. UK travellers currently need nothing new for ETIAS, though the separate Entry/Exit System, which involves fingerprints and a photo at the border, is already fully operational.
ETIAS and EES Are Not the Same Thing
These two systems get confused constantly, and it’s worth being clear about the difference before anything else. The Entry/Exit System, or EES, is a biometric border check that replaces passport stamps with fingerprints and a facial photo. It has been fully operational at every Schengen external border since April 2026, so if you’ve travelled to Europe recently, you’ve likely already gone through it.
ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is a separate online travel authorisation you’ll need to apply for before your trip, similar to the US ESTA or the UK’s own ETA scheme. This is the system that has not launched yet.
Why the Launch Keeps Being Delayed
ETIAS was originally meant to launch in 2021, and has been repeatedly pushed back since. The most recent target, the last quarter of 2026, was formally removed from the official EU ETIAS website in mid-July 2026, following reporting that the EU’s technical agency, eu-LISA, had concluded a 2026 launch was no longer feasible.
The EU cited a mix of factors, including insufficient staffing and infrastructure at national level, alongside knock-on issues from the EES rollout. A further eu-LISA board meeting was expected in September 2026 to settle on a revised timeline, with 2027 currently seen as the more realistic outcome.
What This Means If You’re Booking a Trip Now
For any trip booked in the near term, nothing changes. You do not need to apply for anything new, and no legitimate ETIAS application is currently open, since the system isn’t live. Any website currently claiming to process ETIAS applications should be treated as fraudulent.
Once ETIAS does launch, the EU has committed to giving at least six months’ public notice before it becomes mandatory, so there will be a clear warning period rather than a sudden requirement appearing overnight.
What ETIAS Will Involve, Once It Launches
When it does eventually go live, the core details are expected to remain as previously set out. It will apply to visa-exempt travellers, including UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders, for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180 day period across the Schengen Area’s 30 participating countries.
The fee is set at 20 euros, raised from an original 7 euros, with applicants under 18 or over 70 exempt from the charge, though still required to hold the authorisation itself. Once granted, it’s valid for up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and covers unlimited short trips within that window rather than needing to be renewed for each holiday.
What You Should Actually Do Right Now
Keep your passport in good order regardless of ETIAS, since the existing rule that it must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area still applies today, independently of any future authorisation.
Build a small amount of extra time into airport connections for EES checks, since the biometric registration at your first crossing has added noticeable queue time at some busy airports during 2026. Ignore any site offering to “pre-register” or “secure your place” for ETIAS ahead of launch, since the genuine application portal isn’t open and won’t be until closer to the real start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has ETIAS launched yet?
No. As of September 2026, ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being accepted. The previous “last quarter of 2026” target was removed from the official EU website in July 2026.
For the wider context behind delays and rule changes like this, our roundup of the top travel news, industry trends and insights for 2026 is a useful place to keep track.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS to travel to Europe right now?
No, not yet. UK travellers currently need only a valid passport, though they will go through EES biometric checks, fingerprints and a photo, at the border, since that system is already fully operational.
What’s the difference between ETIAS and EES?
EES is a biometric border check, already live, that records your entry and exit. ETIAS is a separate online travel authorisation you’ll need to apply for in advance, similar to a US ESTA, which has not launched yet.
How much will ETIAS cost when it launches?
The fee is set at 20 euros, with applicants under 18 or over 70 exempt from paying, though everyone will still need the authorisation itself once it’s mandatory.
Planning a European trip and want help navigating the changing entry requirements? See our comparison of travel agent vs booking online, and check what your travel insurance covers before you book.
Will children need ETIAS too?
Yes, under current EU plans children will need their own ETIAS authorisation, just as they need their own passport. A parent or guardian will apply on the child’s behalf, and under the EU’s published plans applicants under 18 are exempt from the application fee, although the authorisation itself will still be required once ETIAS becomes mandatory. This detail is based on the plans the EU has published so far and could be confirmed again closer to launch, so check the official ETIAS information before you travel rather than relying on an older guide.
How long will an ETIAS authorisation be valid?
Under current EU published plans, an ETIAS authorisation will be valid for up to three years, or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. Within that period it is expected to cover multiple short trips, so you would not need to apply again for each holiday, provided your passport stays the same and your circumstances have not changed. If you renew your passport, you should expect to need a new authorisation linked to the new document. As with other ETIAS details, this is set out in the EU’s current plans and will be confirmed on the official site at launch.
ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System (EES): Two Different Systems, Often Confused
The simplest way to separate the two systems is by where each one happens. The Entry/Exit System, or EES, is a border process: it happens when you arrive, it involves biometric checks, fingerprints and a facial photo, and it creates a digital record of your entry and exit in place of a passport stamp. ETIAS is different in kind, not just in name. It is a pre-travel authorisation you complete online before you set off, closer in spirit to the US ESTA, and it is checked before or as you travel rather than created at the border desk.
Both systems have been introduced in phases rather than on a single day, which is one reason the picture feels confusing. Under current EU plans, travellers from the UK may therefore already have experienced EES at the border while ETIAS is still to come, and the two should not be treated as one combined application. Keeping your passport, bookings and other documents organised in one place makes both processes easier, and our smart travel packing tips and hacks for stress-free trips are a practical way to prepare for the document checks themselves.
How to Spot an ETIAS Scam Website
Scam sites rely on urgency and on looking almost official. Warning signs include charging far more than the EU’s published ETIAS fee, offering to process an application before the official system has launched, using a lookalike address that is not an official EU domain, and pressuring you to pay immediately to secure a place or avoid a penalty. A site that asks for detailed personal or payment information while claiming ETIAS is already open should be treated with particular caution, because no legitimate application can currently be completed for a system that has not launched.
Official information about ETIAS lives on the European Union’s official ETIAS website, published through the EU’s own Europa channels, and that is where launch timing and application arrangements will appear under current EU plans. Until you can reach the application through those official pages, do not pay any third party that claims to file ETIAS for you, however professional its site looks. While you are checking official sources, it is also worth reviewing what travel insurance covers and what it quietly excludes, so a change to entry rules does not leave a gap in the rest of your trip planning.
