Travellers to Spain from visa-exempt countries have gained a reprieve after EU officials confirmed that the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will now enter a ‘soft-launch’ phase in the last quarter of 2026 rather than mid-2025. An explanatory guide published on 15 January by property portal Idealista outlines the revised calendar: ETIAS remains optional for the first six months and will not become a boarding requirement until at least April 2027.(idealista.com)
The delay is linked to slippage in the companion Entry/Exit System (EES), which Spain has been trial-ling since late 2025 at Madrid-Barajas and Málaga. AENA, the national airport operator, has welcomed the breathing space, saying it allows more time to train staff on biometric kiosks before another layer of checks is added. Airlines flying into Spain will ultimately have to verify ETIAS approvals—likely costing €20 each—before allowing passengers to board.
![ETIAS launch pushed to late 2026, giving Spanish airports time to complete biometric roll-out]()
For travellers who prefer expert assistance rather than navigating these shifting requirements alone, VisaHQ offers an online hub (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) that already streamlines Schengen visa and residence-permit applications and will incorporate ETIAS registration as soon as it becomes available, making it a one-stop resource for both leisure visitors and corporate mobility managers.
For businesses relocating personnel to Spain or organising short-term assignments, the deferral removes an immediate administrative hurdle. Non-EU assignees from the UK, United States, Canada and Australia can continue to rely on passport-only entry for at least another year, subject to the 90/180-day Schengen stay rule. Mobility managers should nonetheless start updating traveller-tracking systems so they can capture ETIAS numbers once the system goes live.
The European Commission is finalising a digital-cross-border data-exchange interface that will feed ETIAS approvals directly into carriers’ departure-control systems. Companies using self-booking tools will need to integrate new API fields. Spanish immigration lawyers also note that ETIAS does not replace visas for work or residence; assignees will still need NIE numbers and, where applicable, visas under Spain’s Start-up Law or Highly Qualified Professional scheme.
The delay is linked to slippage in the companion Entry/Exit System (EES), which Spain has been trial-ling since late 2025 at Madrid-Barajas and Málaga. AENA, the national airport operator, has welcomed the breathing space, saying it allows more time to train staff on biometric kiosks before another layer of checks is added. Airlines flying into Spain will ultimately have to verify ETIAS approvals—likely costing €20 each—before allowing passengers to board.
For travellers who prefer expert assistance rather than navigating these shifting requirements alone, VisaHQ offers an online hub (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) that already streamlines Schengen visa and residence-permit applications and will incorporate ETIAS registration as soon as it becomes available, making it a one-stop resource for both leisure visitors and corporate mobility managers.
For businesses relocating personnel to Spain or organising short-term assignments, the deferral removes an immediate administrative hurdle. Non-EU assignees from the UK, United States, Canada and Australia can continue to rely on passport-only entry for at least another year, subject to the 90/180-day Schengen stay rule. Mobility managers should nonetheless start updating traveller-tracking systems so they can capture ETIAS numbers once the system goes live.
The European Commission is finalising a digital-cross-border data-exchange interface that will feed ETIAS approvals directly into carriers’ departure-control systems. Companies using self-booking tools will need to integrate new API fields. Spanish immigration lawyers also note that ETIAS does not replace visas for work or residence; assignees will still need NIE numbers and, where applicable, visas under Spain’s Start-up Law or Highly Qualified Professional scheme.
