The European Commission confirmed on 15 January that the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will not become mandatory before April 2027, with a soft launch pencilled in for Q4 2026. The move, announced after yet another delay to the companion biometric Entry/Exit System (EES), was welcomed by French airports and airlines that are already battling staffing shortages and IT challenges. (visahq.com)
Paris-based ADP Group expects passenger volumes to rebound to 2019 levels this summer; layering a €20 pre-authorisation fee and carrier-verification duties on top of EES would have been a major strain. Border-police unions, currently short 900 officers at CDG alone, now have extra time to recruit and to test self-service kiosks before the surge expected for the 2026 Winter Youth Olympics and FIFA Club World Cup. (visahq.com)
![EU Pushes ETIAS Start to Late 2026, Giving France Breathing Space]()
For corporate mobility teams the delay removes an immediate administrative hurdle. Employees from visa-exempt countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Singapore will not need an ETIAS number when booking travel to France until late 2026 at the earliest. Nevertheless, the Commission warns travellers to avoid fraudulent “early access” websites; only the official portal will issue approvals. (visahq.com)
Whether you are a leisure traveller or a global HR manager, VisaHQ can take the guesswork out of these shifting requirements. The company’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) tracks ETIAS developments in real time, sends personalised alerts when key dates move, and can even batch-process large volumes of applications the moment the system opens—ideal for tour operators, airlines and corporates alike.
Airlines still have homework: departure-control software must be upgraded to read ETIAS approvals during a six-month transition period once the system finally goes live. Travel-management companies are therefore urged to build bulk-application workflows ahead of testing. Meanwhile, French tour operators say the delay prevents a potential “double-whammy” of biometric bottlenecks and new paperwork during the first full high season since China resumed group tours to Europe. (visahq.com)
Paris-based ADP Group expects passenger volumes to rebound to 2019 levels this summer; layering a €20 pre-authorisation fee and carrier-verification duties on top of EES would have been a major strain. Border-police unions, currently short 900 officers at CDG alone, now have extra time to recruit and to test self-service kiosks before the surge expected for the 2026 Winter Youth Olympics and FIFA Club World Cup. (visahq.com)
For corporate mobility teams the delay removes an immediate administrative hurdle. Employees from visa-exempt countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Singapore will not need an ETIAS number when booking travel to France until late 2026 at the earliest. Nevertheless, the Commission warns travellers to avoid fraudulent “early access” websites; only the official portal will issue approvals. (visahq.com)
Whether you are a leisure traveller or a global HR manager, VisaHQ can take the guesswork out of these shifting requirements. The company’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) tracks ETIAS developments in real time, sends personalised alerts when key dates move, and can even batch-process large volumes of applications the moment the system opens—ideal for tour operators, airlines and corporates alike.
Airlines still have homework: departure-control software must be upgraded to read ETIAS approvals during a six-month transition period once the system finally goes live. Travel-management companies are therefore urged to build bulk-application workflows ahead of testing. Meanwhile, French tour operators say the delay prevents a potential “double-whammy” of biometric bottlenecks and new paperwork during the first full high season since China resumed group tours to Europe. (visahq.com)
