The European Union has announced that its European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) — once rumored to be launched this year — will be pushed back until 2026.
ETIAS is a proposed new step to Europe’s immigration process, which will require travelers to fill out an application (and potentially pay a small fee) before boarding your flight. It may sound intimidating, but it’s essentially the same process as the United Kingdom’s ETA and the United States’ ESTA requirement: new digital systems intended to streamline international travel.
Once launched, ETIAS will be required to enter this bloc of 30 countries. If approved, your ETIAS will be digitally linked to your passport and last for three years (or until your passport expires).
But that’s all down the road. For now, you don’t need to do anything. The European Union is still getting its entry-and-exit ducks in a row and will give at least six months’ notice before ETIAS goes into effect — which, the EU says, will not be until 2026. So if you’re heading to continental Europe this year, keep on travelin’ as you were.
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