ETIAS delayed: new EU travel authorisation rules for 2026–2027

Travellers from the UK and more than 50 other non-EU countries will soon face new entry requirements for visiting destinations such as Spain, Italy, and Portugal. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, known as ETIAS, is a new pre-travel permit that will alter the process for short-stay visits to most of Europe.

What is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)?

The ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation designed for citizens of countries that do not currently need a visa to enter the EU for short stays. 

The system's primary goal is to bolster security by conducting checks on these travellers before they begin their journey to the Schengen Area. Once approved, the ETIAS will permit stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period for tourism, business, or transit purposes across participating European countries, including Spain, Italy and Portugal.

ETIAS does not replace existing visa procedures for those who already need a visa to enter the Schengen Area; it sits alongside them as a pre‑travel requirement for visa‑exempt visitors.

The ETIAS start date: when will it be implemented?

According to recent EU announcements, ETIAS is expected to begin operating in the last quarter of 2026, but it will not become compulsory immediately.

The current timetable is as follows:

• The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being introduced first and is already in phased use at a growing number of airports in Spain, including Barajas Airport in Madrid and Malaga Airport.
• ETIAS will then be introduced in a so‑called soft‑launch phase in late 2026, once EES has bedded in.
• A transition period of six months is planned after ETIAS starts operating, during which travellers will be able to enter without an ETIAS authorisation while the system is rolled out.
• Under the revised calendar, the authorisation will not become a condition of boarding until at least April 2027.

Until the end of this transition, British and other visa‑exempt visitors can continue to travel using current passport‑only rules, subject to existing entry conditions such as the 90/180‑day limit.

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Who needs to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation?

The ETIAS requirement will apply to non-EU citizens from more than 60 visa-exempt countries. This includes travellers holding passports from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. The authorisation will be necessary for entry into 30 European countries, which encompasses the 27 nations of the Schengen Area as well as Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus.

Will UK citizens need ETIAS after Brexit?

Once ETIAS is in force, it will apply to nationals of dozens of non‑EU countries and territories that currently enjoy visa‑free access for short stays. This includes passport holders from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and many other partners.

The authorisation will be required for entry to 30 European countries for trips of up to 90 days in any 180‑day period. These include all 27 Schengen states plus Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus, which are joining the common travel framework for short‑stay purposes.

ETIAS requirements for travelling to Spain, Italy or Portugal

For travellers heading to Spain, Italy or Portugal, ETIAS will operate as a single authorisation covering the entire participating area rather than on a country‑by‑country basis.

Key points for trips to Spain, Italy and Portugal:

• One approved ETIAS will allow movement across all participating countries for the duration of its validity.
• Visitors planning multi‑country itineraries, such as flying from the UK to Spain and then travelling on to Italy or Portugal, will not need separate authorisations for each country.
• The authorisation will be digitally linked to the traveller’s passport and checked by airlines and border officials at departure and on arrival.

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The ETIAS application process: step-by-step guide

ETIAS has been designed as a fully digital system. Applications will be submitted via an official EU web portal and, in due course, a mobile app. Authorities have repeatedly stressed that travellers should rely on the official channel and be cautious of intermediaries charging additional fees.

The online form will typically ask for:

• Personal details, such as full name, date and place of birth
• Passport information, including number, issuing country and expiry date
• Contact details and travel information
• Basic background questions, including on education and occupation
• Declarations relating to security, health and previous travel history

The information will then be checked automatically against EU and international databases. Only a small share of applications is expected to require manual review.

ETIAS application fee and processing times

Recent updates from EU institutions point to a lower standard fee than some earlier communications suggested.

• Earlier communications referred to a €7 ETIAS fee, but the European Commission has now set the proposed charge at €20, subject to approval by EU legislators
• Some age groups are expected to be exempt from payment, with children and older travellers likely to benefit from free applications.

Payment will be made online by debit or credit card at the time of application. 

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How ETIAS and EES work together

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT platform that records the time and place of entry and exit for non‑EU nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen Area.

EES infrastructure, including biometric kiosks and e‑gates, is already being installed and tested at many Spanish, Italian and Portuguese airports and seaports. In Spain, for example, the machines are in use at various airports, including on islands such as Lanzarote, on a phased basis. 

ETIAS validity and travel rules

Once granted, an ETIAS travel authorisation is expected to:

• Remain valid for three years, or until the passport used in the application expires, whichever comes first
• Allow multiple entries to all participating European countries over that period
• Be tied electronically to a single passport, meaning a new passport will require a fresh ETIAS application

For British visitors to Spain, Italy and Portugal, the combination of ETIAS and EES will mark a shift towards more structured, data‑driven border management, similar to systems already in place in countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

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