ETIAS Delayed Until 2025

The European Union (EU) has announced that implementing the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is delayed…again.

While it was to go into effect in 2021, the ETIAS visa waiver fell victim to several issues and concerns. The EU put the implementation on the back burner and announced earlier this year that it would go into effect in 2024. Some of the same security and technical challenges continued; in addition, the Paris Olympics threw another wrench at its use.

What is the ETIAS?

That ETIAS is a waiver that pre-screens travelers from “third-countries”, who are citizens from countries not needing a Schengen Visa. It is similar to the U.S. ESTA and Canadian eTA. Travelers currently visiting EU member countries visa-free, will need an ETIAS visa waiver once the EU requires it.

Impact

While implementation of the ETIAS is delayed, it will have little effect on anyone from current visa-exempt countries traveling to the EU Schengen Countries in 2024. While the delay is frustrating for the EU, it will ultimately ensure that the process will be effective and secure.

Chris Cutler

Travel Editor

Christine Cutler is a writer, photographer, editor, guide, teacher, traveler, Ohio native, Florida resident, and world citizen. she lives in downtown St. Petersburg with her husband and crazy Welsh terrier, and she considers Italy, where she holds dual citizenship, her second home. in addition to being travel editor and writing for live in Italy magazine, she maintains her own websites (coldpastaandredwine.com and christinecutler.com), guides small groups through Italy, and is a travel advisor for Adventures by Jamie (adventuresbyjamie.com) a travel, non-fiction, and memoir writer; photographer; and editor whose work has appeared in various publications, she spends as much time as she can exploring—and living and breathing—Italy.