Brits €20 charge to visit EU countries pushed back to avoid ETIAS and EES nightmare
British holidaymakers can breathe a temporary sigh of relief after the European Union delayed the introduction of its new €20 travel authorisation scheme.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which was expected to launch later this year, is now unlikely to begin until 2027, giving holidaymakers from the UK an unexpected reprieve.
The delay is said to be due to ongoing problems with the rollout of the bloc's new Entry/Exit System (EES), according to reports.
The ETIAS permit will eventually be required by visa-exempt visitors, including UK nationals, before travelling to most EU and Schengen countries. It is not a visa but a pre-travel security authorisation similar to the US ESTA system.
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Adults aged between 18 and 70 will have to pay €20, while the permit will remain valid for up to three years or until the traveller's passport expires.
Why ETIAS is being delayed
The delay comes after widespread disruption linked to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System, which requires non-EU travellers to register biometric information, including fingerprints and an image of their face, the first time they cross a Schengen border.
Airports and border crossings in hotspot destinations have reported long waits since the system became fully operational. Some customers have had to endure five-hour queues.
The reason behind the delay is sai to be due to officials responsible for implementing ETIAS concluding that introducing the new permit while the Entry/Exit System continues to experience operational problems would create additional complications for travellers and border authorities, the Financial Times reports.
What does this mean for British travellers?
The delay has been welcomed by the travel industry. John Sullivan, Commercial Director at Advantage Travel Partnership, said postponing ETIAS was the right decision while airports continue to grapple with the new border checks.
“Advantage Travel Partnership strongly supports any decision to delay the introduction of ETIAS,” Sullivan tells LADbible.
“In this digital age, Europe's airports should provide frictionless experiences and not be bogged down in time consuming bureaucracy.
“The chaotic rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES) this summer has highlighted the significant operational challenges airports and border authorities continue to face. Introducing another major border process before the current system is fully bedded in would only risk creating further disruption for holidaymakers and business travellers.
For now, UK travellers do not need an ETIAS authorisation to visit EU countries.
However, they should still be prepared for extra time at border controls because first-time users of the Entry/Exit System must complete biometric registration before entering the Schengen area.
Sullivan added: "Travellers save a great deal for their well-earned holidays, and they deserve to spend their time enjoying their destination, not standing in lengthy airport queues.
“It’s already expected that queues of up-to five hours will take place in airports this summer, if ETIAS were introduced before airports have had sufficient time to adapt to EES, there is a real risk of even longer waiting times, increased congestion and avoidable delays at border controls during peak travel periods.
“Airports need sufficient time to adapt, test systems and ensure staff are fully prepared. The priority now should be making the EES work efficiently and reliably before adding another layer of requirements for travellers. A measured approach will help deliver a better experience for passengers while giving the aviation industry the certainty it needs to prepare properly.”
Greg Harris