The European Union has announced a further postponement of the ETIAS and EES systems, designed to modernize border control in the enlarged Schengen area. Faced with technical and organizational challenges, their implementation is now scheduled for October 2025 and the end of 2026.
While the UK has just opened its ETA system to European travelers, the European Union has officially announced a further postponement of the implementation of the EES (Entry/Exit System) and ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) systems…
These systems, designed to modernize border control in the enlarged Schengen area, were originally scheduled to come into force in 2022. But once again, technical constraints and operational adjustments have forced the EU to postpone their deployment.
A revised timetable: EES in October 2025 and ETIAS at the end of 2026
According to the timetable revised on March 5, 2025 by EU interior ministers, the EES system “is expected to become operational in October 2025”, with a gradual roll-out over six months to allow member states to adapt to the new procedures.
As for ETIAS, which concerns visa-exempt travelers from third countries, its launch is now scheduled for “the last quarter of 2026”.
This postponement is part of a long series of successive postponements. The EES, initially expected in 2022, had already been postponed several times, first to 2023, then to 2024, before being set for 2025. The ETIAS, meanwhile, was due to see the light of day in spring 2025, but will finally follow the EES a year late.
“Once the Regulation on the progressive start of operations of the EES is adopted and the remaining Member States declare readiness, the Commission will decide on the specific date of the progressive start of the EES, guided by the timeline endorsed by the Home Affairs Ministers on 5 March,” explains the European Commission.
Why these new postponements?
There are several reasons for these adjustments:
- Ongoing technical challenges
The complexity of the EES system, which has to register the entry and exit of third-country nationals in 30 European countries, requires meticulous deployment. Its infrastructure is based on an advanced biometric core system, the implementation of which is said to have encountered technical difficulties and insufficient reliability tests. - Adaptation by member states and carriers
Schengen member states must integrate the system into their border infrastructures, and carriers (air, sea and rail) must comply. To avoid disruption at borders, the EU has opted for a phased implementation. - A desire to ensure a smooth transition
Unlike previous launches, which were set without any real room for adaptation, this new timetable provides for a more flexible, gradual approach to avoid chaos at borders and ensure an efficient transition for travellers and authorities alike.
Postponed launches of ETIAS and EES: what impact for travelers?
The postponement of ETIAS means that nationals of visa-exempt countries can continue to enter Europe without prior authorization until 2026. Eventually, the ETIAS will become compulsory, costing 7 euros per application and valid for three years. Multiple stays of 90 days in Europe will be possible during this period.
Citizens of 59 countries will be covered by the ETIAS electronic travel authorization.
On the other hand, when the EES comes into force between late 2025 and early 2026, it will impose new obligations on travellers, with the systematic registration of fingerprints and photos at every border crossing. This system will replace the paper stamps currently used in passports.
Implementation under close scrutiny
Despite these postponements, the European Union remains determined to strengthen border security and modernize migratory flows. The stakes are high: to ensure effective implementation without disrupting the millions of travelers who pass through the Schengen area every year.
The next few months will be decisive in finalizing the technical tests and ensuring a smooth transition. The EU hopes that these new deadlines will enable us to avoid the mistakes of the past, and ensure that the systems function smoothly as soon as they come into service.
To be continued…
