Monica Marchi - Travel Agent

FYI - As per Open Jaw News & Views (Catherine McGowan)
Just In: EU Delays ETIAS Launch Until Next Year

The Financial Times reports the European Union is pushing back the official launch of the already delayed pre-travel authorization (ETIAS) until 2027, following the chaotic rollout of Europe’s border entry/exit system (EES).

The two programs are separate but related due to their drain on resources and technology.

The article quotes "three people briefed on the matter" as saying implementation of ETIAS by the end of 2026 is "no longer feasible," with one saying “IT issues” are responsible for the hold up.

The FT says a spokesperson for EU-Lisa, the agency in charge of implementation, confirmed ETIAS’ “entry into operation” was discussed on 17JUN. “Since then, there have been no further developments on this topic,” they said.

According to the publication's sources, the board is due to meet again in September to plan a new timeline.

A note on the EU website still states ETIAS operations will begin in the last quarter of 2026, saying it will “inform about the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch.”

The Canadian government also recently updated advisories for more than two dozen countries with information on ETIAS, previously planned to start between September and December 2026.

Applications for the system are not open yet on the official EU website, and travellers have been warned to "be cautious of fraudulent websites claiming to sell ETIAS authorizations." The website goes on to say applications can only be made through the official EU website once the system is launched.

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorization System — it’s the EU’s pre-travel authorization requirement for visa-exempt visitors to Europe, similar to the US ESTA or Canada’s eTA.

Once operational, travellers must apply online and pay for ETIAS before travelling to 30 European countries. The authorization expires after three years or when your passport expires. The authorization enables travellers to stay for up to 90 days in any of the participating countries combined, within a 180-day period.

Longer stays may be possible depending on existing bilateral agreements with Canada. Canadian citizens, who are also a citizen of any of the participating countries, cannot apply for an ETIAS and must travel on their European passport.

What Is the EU Entry-Exit System?

As well as ETIAS, the Canadian government is also warning about travel delays caused by the Europe’s newly implemented Entry/Exit System (EES). The system became fully operational in early April 2026, but has been slowly rolled out across European airports over the last few years.

The EES affects all Schengen Zone countries, as well as Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland, but excludes Ireland and Cyprus.

Under the new protocol, visitors from outside the EU must undergo biometric registration at their first point of entry. This requires providing both fingerprints and a facial scan, except for children under 12, who are exempt from fingerprinting. While this process is intended to streamline repeat border crossings down the line, initial registration has resulted in longer queues and processing times.

As previously reported by Open Jaw last week, EES has caused long lines at airports, prompting calls from The Airports International Council for it to be suspended over the summer.

However, The Guardian reports EU officials today ruled out any possible suspension of EES, despite admitting there are “20 difficult spots” facing queue issues. Officials went on to describe the system as “not perfect,” saying a full suspension was “not needed” and “not possible.”