The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), previously expected to launch in 2024, has been postponed again.
While the European Union (EU) has yet to release an official statement regarding the implementation delay, news media organizations say EU officials have confirmed May 2025 as the potential new go-live date for ETIAS, with the possibility of even further delays.
According to EU authorities, the delay is partly due to the Entry/Exit System (EES) not being operational. EES is an automated IT system that, once functional, will register non-EU travelers every time they cross an external EU border.
Without the implementation of the EES security system, according to cited EU authorities, ETIAS cannot become operational.
Given this delay, travelers from these visa-exempt countries can continue to visit certain European countries without having to obtain ETIAS authorization.