EU plans to delay ETIAS visa-free travel registry until 2027 amid airport congestion

The European Union is planning to delay the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)—which will require citizens of visa-exempt countries to obtain electronic travel authorization before entering the Schengen area—until 2027.

According to a report by the Financial Times, which cited sources close to the matter, the decision has been driven by ongoing disruptions in the currently active biometric registration system and resulting congestion at airports.

EU-Lisa, the EU agency responsible for the technical infrastructure and installation of the system, determined that the previously set target of late 2026 is unrealistic under current conditions.

The agency’s management discussed the delay in mid-June and aims to finalize the new schedule in September after reassessing technical preparedness.

The final entry-into-force date will be determined by the European Commission following the completion of testing within EU-Lisa.

Technical disruptions persist in the current system

An unnamed source highlighted the pressure on the Entry/Exit System (EES) currently in use at Schengen borders, warning: “Let us not establish a new mechanism that will double the workload at border crossings before fully streamlining the EES system.”

The EES, an electronic registration system that replaced passport stamping at border crossings, was fully deployed across the Schengen area in April of this year.

The system, which takes photographs and records fingerprints of non-EU travelers upon their first entry, has caused long wait times and technical lockups at airports.

Industry representatives, including ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E), and IATA, have petitioned the European Commission to suspend biometric checks during peak hours, while airlines are advising passengers to arrive at airports at least three hours before their flights.

Infrastructure and staffing shortages complicate the process

In a letter sent to airline executives, Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, indicated that the delays do not stem solely from software issues.

Brunner stated that a lack of border personnel and physical infrastructure to accommodate the new systems in many member states is also negatively impacting the process.

The ETIAS project, the foundations of which were laid in 2018, aims to run security screenings on visa-free travelers planning short-term tourist or business visits to the Schengen area.

Under the planned system, travelers will apply online prior to their trip by paying a fee of 20 euros, and their personal data will be subjected to automated checks against security databases.