EU to delay the planned €20 pre-authorisation travel system due to border queues.
by The Travel Magazine Jul 8, 2026 written by The Travel Magazine Jul 8, 2026
6 ETIAS, the bolt-on to the EES rollout that would see UK citizens pay €20 to enter the EU, is to be delayed till next year.
This new system, due to be implemented in the last quarter of 2026, is designed to crack down on border security for third-country nationals. Non-EU nationals have to pay a fee to enter the EU before travelling.
There have been delays already and likely to be further delayed (according to the Financial Times) thanks to the slow and chaotic roll-out of the EES – the electronic entry/exit system.
The EES, initiated in April, means that non-EU passport holders must provide fingerprints and facial biometrics; however, the equipment often didn’t work or meant queues so long that some passengers missed their flights.
This prompted Greece to go its own way, dropping EES completely for UK travellers.
The Financial Times reports that the agency in charge of implementing ETIAS acknowledges that it is not feasible to start the new system before 2027. The word is that there are still some IT issues with ETIAS.
ETIAS is not a visa, says the EU; they describe is an an online pre-screening and registration form that will cost €20 (£17) to complete and submit. Successful applicants will be eligible to remain in member states up to 90 days in every 180 days.
It is understood that the exact implementation date for ETIAS will be proposed by the European Commission following a consultation with EU_Lisa and Member States.
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