EU Postpones Introduction of ETIAS Travel System to 2024

Without prior notice, the European Union has postponed the rollout of ETIAS - the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, now rescheduled for 2024.

The EU Commission's Migration and Home Affairs website was modified to reflect the new date, replacing the previous date of November 2023. The delay occurred without any advance disclosure to the media or the public.

ETIAS is expected to be implemented in 2024, but the exact date is currently unknown.

The implementation of the Entry-Exit System (EES), which was originally scheduled for May 2023, has also been postponed by the European Union. The new target date for the system's launch is the end of 2023. The EES aims to track the entry and exit of non-EU travelers into and out of the Schengen area borders.

The European Union's decision to implement the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is a response to the growing threat of terrorism within its borders, with the intention of enhancing border controls and pre-arrival checks on all visitors. The new regulation will require travelers to provide information about their plans within Europe. Failure to obtain an ETIAS will result in denial of boarding to a desired ETIAS member country.

It's worth mentioning that the airlines and cruise operators will be responsible for verifying each passenger's ETIAS validity during check-in, and boarding will be denied if a valid ETIAS is not presented.

Visitors who previously enjoyed visa-free travel to Europe, including those from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries, will require an approved ETIAS to enter any of the ETIAS member countries once the system gets implemented.

Regardless of age, all travelers will need to acquire an ETIAS - including infants, children, and teens, and the authorization will remain valid for three years or until the passport's expiration date.

Passengers seeking entry to ETIAS member countries will need to complete an online application form that covers a wide range of biometric, travel, and security-related questions.

The application will then be electronically processed within 96 hours, with the authorization delivered via email. Data from passengers will be checked against a variety of European and international databases, no-fly lists included, to identify potential terrorist and criminal threats.

Most applications are expected to be processed within one hour if no further checks are required. Travelers with a valid ETIAS will be able to visit popular European tourist and business destinations, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and 18 other countries.

Initially, the launch of the ETIAS scheme was scheduled for August 2022 but was later postponed to the end of the same year, then rescheduled to become mandatory for travelers on May 1, 2023, and finally, the implementation of ETIAS was postponed once again to November 2023.

For the latest updates and additional information regarding the ETIAS program, including the recent news and launch updates, please visit ETIAS.org to stay informed.