Foreign travelers who are currently allowed visa-free entry to the European Union (EU) will not need to obtain a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorization until at least April 2027.
The European Union’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs has confirmed that ETIAS is expected to roll out in the last quarter of 2026. However, there will be a transitional grace period, meaning that the requirement to apply for ETIAS will not become mandatory until 2027, as reported by Schengen.News.
ETIAS’ implementation is closely tied to the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES), which has faced several delays. The EU has now agreed to begin introducing the EES in October of this year, with member states gradually launching the new border system over a six-month period.
If the EU proceeds with the planned October 2025 rollout of the EES, member states will be required to register ten percent of travelers crossing the border within the first month. Initially, the system will operate without biometric functionalities for the first 60 days. However, by January 2026, all member states will need to have biometric capabilities in place, and by April 2026, the full implementation of the EES should be completed.
Once the EES is fully functional, ETIAS will follow. As explained by EU authorities, ETIAS will be implemented six months after the EES is fully operational, meaning around October 2026. During this initial six-month period, ETIAS will be optional, allowing visa-exempt travelers to enter the Schengen Area without a travel authorization, as long as they meet other entry criteria.
Starting in April 2027, ETIAS will become compulsory for all visa-exempt travelers, with the exception of those entering the EU for the first time since the transitional period ended. These travelers will have a six-month grace period, until October 2027, to comply with the ETIAS requirement.
Therefore, the ETIAS will become mandatory for most travelers by April 2027, and fully compulsory for all visa-exempt travelers by October 2027.
