EU's new €7 ETIAS travel authorisation delayed until 2027
People from the UK will have to obtain authorisation before travelling to Spain
The launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) has been delayed once again, with the European Union announcing that it will not be introduced until the end of 2026 and will not become mandatory until 2027. This means that travellers from non-EU countries, including the UK, will have a bit more time before they need to obtain an ETIAS authorisation before visiting Spain and other Schengen Area countries.
The ETIAS, which was initially planned to be introduced in 2026, is a visa-waiver system that aims to improve border security and streamline the travel process.
Part of the reason for the delay is that the EU is moving ahead with its plan to launch the Entry/Exit System (EES) this year, which needs to be up and running in airports before the ETIAS can be rolled out. The EES will affect anyone who doesn’t need a visa to enter the EU, which includes travellers from Britain and the United States.
What is the ETIAS and who needs one?
Travellers from the UK to Spain will eventually need to obtain an ETIAS, which will require completing an online application, providing personal details, answering security questions and paying a €7 fee.
This authorisation will be linked to the traveller's passport and will be valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes sooner. The ETIAS will apply to travellers from 60 non-EU countries, although children under 18 and adults over 70 will be exempt from the fee.
On the other hand, EU citizens, including those from Spain, will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before visiting the UK for short stays of less than six months, starting from April 2.
This new rule applies to all EU citizens, except those with Irish nationality, regardless of the purpose of their visit. The ETA is a reciprocal measure to the ETIAS, and is part of a broader effort to improve border security and facilitate travel between the EU and the UK.
According to official sources, the ETIAS is now expected to launch in the final quarter of 2026, with an exact start date to be announced a few months in advance.
Following its introduction, the system will operate on a voluntary basis for six months, allowing travellers to familiarise themselves with the new process before it becomes mandatory, potentially as late as mid-2027, at which point they will be required to pay the €7 fee.
In other news: Spanish train strikes called off
Image: Archive
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