The EU may postpone the launch of ETIAS due to chaos at the borders

The EU may postpone the launch of ETIAS—a new pre-authorization system for travelers from visa-waiver countries. This is due to issues with the EES biometric system, which has already caused lines and delays at some European borders. Learn more about why the EU is revising the launch schedule for the new entry rules and what this means for travelers

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The European Union may postpone the launch of ETIAS—an online system for advance travel authorization for citizens of countries that do not require a visa for short-term travel to the EU. According to the Financial Times, the new system may be postponed until 2027 due to issues with another border control system—the EES—which has already caused delays at airports and border crossings.

ETIAS was supposed to be the next step in the digitization of European border control. Before traveling, travelers will be required to submit an online application, undergo an automated check, and pay a 20-euro fee. The official EU website currently states that the system is scheduled to go live in the fourth quarter of 2026, and no action is required from travelers at this time.

However, the launch of ETIAS has been called into question due to difficulties with the EES—the Entry/Exit System, which collects biometric data from third-country nationals as they cross the Schengen Area’s borders. Airlines and airports are already warning of long lines, delays, and risks for the peak tourist season. Therefore, the EU will likely first try to stabilize the EES before introducing another layer of checks for travelers.

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Why Might the EU Postpone the Launch of ETIAS?

The EU may postpone the launch of ETIAS—the pre-authorization system for visa-free travelers—due to problems with the EES’s biometric controls. Officially, ETIAS is still scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, though the EU has not yet announced a specific date. The system’s website also states that travelers do not need to take any action at this time.

ETIAS is set to become mandatory for citizens of countries that can travel to 30 European nations without a visa. Before traveling, they will need to fill out an online application, pay a 20-euro fee, and obtain a short-stay authorization—valid for up to 90 days.

The problem is that ETIAS is supposed to launch after the EES—the Entry/Exit System, which replaces passport stamps with digital border-crossing records. The EES became fully operational in Schengen countries on April 10, 2026, but its implementation has been plagued by delays, technical difficulties, and longer lines at border control.

That is precisely why the EU may be in no hurry to launch yet another screening system. If the EES is already putting a strain on airports and border crossings, the simultaneous launch of ETIAS could only exacerbate the chaos ahead of the upcoming tourist seasons.

In a previous article, we reported that the EU has raised the ETIAS application fee to 20 euros.

What went wrong with the EES system?

The problems didn’t start with ETIAS, but with EES—the Entry/Exit System, which replaces passport stamps with digital border crossing records. It records the date and place of entry and exit for non-EU citizens and collects biometric data: facial photos, fingerprints, and travel document information.

The EES was intended to speed up border controls and help identify those who exceed the permitted length of stay in the Schengen Area. But in practice, the system has placed an additional burden on border checkpoints. Since some travelers are registering for the first time, the procedure takes longer than a standard passport check.

The greatest difficulties arose where passenger traffic is already high: at airports, seaports, rail terminals, and land border crossings. According to media reports, wait times for border checks reached several hours at some locations, and airlines warned of the risk of flight delays during the peak tourist season.

That is precisely why launching ETIAS now seems risky. Adding yet another mandatory pre-travel verification system to the EES’s unstable performance could increase confusion for travelers and put new pressure on the EU’s transportation infrastructure.

Learn more about the new UK border crossing rules and the introduction of the ETA by following the link.

Are airports and carriers warning of the risk of delays?

The biggest risk for travelers right now is not ETIAS itself, but the lines caused by the EES. Biometric registration takes longer than a standard passport check, especially for passengers going through it for the first time.

According to The Guardian, the EU acknowledges problems at approximately 20 “hotspots” where the new system has already caused long lines. At the same time, Brussels does not support a complete suspension of the EES, as the system is already being used to monitor entries, exits, and verify violations of stay limits.

Airlines and airports warn that the situation could worsen this summer. During peak season, even a slight slowdown at passport control quickly leads to flight delays, longer layovers, and crowds of passengers in terminals.

That is precisely why they want to postpone the launch of ETIAS. According to the Financial Times, the EU does not want to add another mandatory check for travelers while the EES is operating erratically and is already straining border infrastructure.

In our previous article, we discussed new travel rules for 2026: ETIAS, ETA, visa-free travel, and digital arrival cards.

What does this mean for travelers?

Until ETIAS is officially launched, travelers do not need to apply or pay a fee before traveling to Europe. The official EU website still states that the system is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, but the exact date will be announced a few months before the launch.

For those planning to travel to the EU in the near future, the main practical risk is longer wait times at passport control due to the EES. The system is already recording the entries and exits of non-EU citizens, collecting facial photos, fingerprints, and passport data.

Before traveling, there are a few things to keep in mind:

- Arrive at the airport or port early, especially during peak season

- Check the entry requirements for the specific Schengen country you’re visiting

- Avoid using unofficial websites that are already “selling” ETIAS

- Stay updated via the official EU portal

- Remember that ETIAS is not a visa, but merely a pre-authorization for visa-exempt travelers

If the launch of ETIAS is indeed postponed, short-term trips to Europe will not change immediately. However, the EES is already affecting the border crossing process itself, so the main advice for tourists is to allow more time for border checks and to verify the current requirements before each trip.

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