The eagerly awaited visa waiver program for Europe's Schengen Area, known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), is experiencing a delay in its launch. The recent announcement from the European Union (EU) states that ETIAS will now be introduced in 2025 instead of the previously anticipated date in 2024.

The ETIAS system, designed to be crucial for visitors to Schengen countries, including most EU member states, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, has been in the planning stages for several years.

The latest setback to ETIAS is attributed to a delay in the implementation of the Entry/Exit System, the central database on which ETIAS relies.

Why the Delay in ETIAS?

The EU agency eu-LISA, responsible for implementing the Entry/Exit System, communicated to European ministers on October 19, 2023, that additional time is required to implement necessary changes to the system.

The Entry/Exit System will electronically record travelers' passport information upon entry to the Schengen Area or departure from the bloc, replacing traditional manual passport stamping. As ETIAS is electronically linked to passengers' passports, it depends on the Entry/Exit System for reading travel authorizations.

In essence, the Entry/Exit System must be fully operational before ETIAS can function.

With ongoing updates to the Entry/Exit System, its launch has been postponed, subsequently delaying ETIAS.

When Can We Expect the Entry/Exit System and ETIAS?

The Entry/Exit System is now projected to be operational in the second half of 2024. Following this, ETIAS is anticipated to be introduced in the first six months of 2025. An exact launch date has not been specified.

The Long-Awaited ETIAS Visa Waiver

ETIAS, modeled after the United States' ESTA, has encountered multiple delays, initially slated for a 2023 launch and later pushed to 2024. This online platform aims to enhance security measures.

Visa-exempt travelers will be required to register with the system before visiting Schengen countries, providing a more efficient alternative to traditional visa applications.

Presently, passengers from visa-exempt countries may travel using only their passports without undergoing checks akin to visa applicants.

ETIAS addresses potential security vulnerabilities in Schengen. In recent years, the EU and European Free Trade Association have undertaken initiatives, including ETIAS, the Entry/Exit System, and the Schengen Information System, to fortify security.

Although originally intended for May 2023, multiple delays have led to the current launch date set for 2025.

Impact of ETIAS Delay on Travel to Europe

For the time being, there is no change in travel procedures to Europe. Visa-exempt travelers can continue to visit Europe using only their passports until the implementation of ETIAS in 2025.

For citizens requiring a visa to enter Schengen countries, ETIAS remains irrelevant, and they must continue the standard visa application process.