- The European Travel Information and Authorisation System has been delayed again with no confirmed launch date
- ECTAA and Frontex detected more than 150 fraudulent websites targeting travellers
- The official application portal is not open and anyone attempting to buy an ETIAS now is dealing with a scam
- The delay stems from the Entry/Exit System requiring complete stability before ETIAS introduction
- The official ETIAS fee will be €7 for adults aged 18 to 70 when the system goes live
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System for non-EU visitors has been delayed again with the European Union stripping all specific launch dates from its portal. The system initially scheduled to go live in late 2026 is now on hold indefinitely with a rollout unlikely until at least 2027.
ABTA issued a warning alongside EU border agency Frontex after detecting more than 150 fraudulent or misleading websites targeting travellers. Because the official application portal is not open, anyone attempting to buy an ETIAS now is dealing with a scam. Fraudsters incorporate countdown timers or claim limited pre-registration spaces while creating convincing domain names and copying the visual design of official European Union websites.
The primary cause of the postponement stems from the sequencing of Europe’s border changes. The EU decided its biometric border database, the Entry/Exit System, must be completely stable before introducing ETIAS. While the EES went live in April 2026, it triggered software issues and long queues at major European border entry points. The official ETIAS fee will be €7 for adults aged 18 to 70 when the system eventually goes live.
