The European Commission has quietly confirmed that the long-awaited European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will not go live until at least 2027. The delay stems from continued technical and staffing problems with the interconnected Entry/Exit System (EES), which is still being rolled out across external Schengen borders. (theportugalnews.com)
ETIAS will eventually require visa-exempt nationals—including Irish passport holders visiting Schengen countries for business or leisure—to complete an online pre-authorisation and pay a €7 fee before departure. Its deferral removes the risk of new red tape landing during the 2026 peak travel season. Airlines, airports and travel-management companies had warned that simultaneous deployment of EES biometric kiosks and ETIAS risked multi-hour queues.
For anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve, VisaHQ can simplify the process. Through its Irish portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/), the firm already tracks Schengen entry changes and will submit ETIAS applications on behalf of travellers as soon as the system opens, offering real-time updates and peace of mind for holidaymakers and corporate road warriors alike.
![EU postpones ETIAS launch to 2027, giving Irish travellers extra breathing room]()
Irish tour operators welcomed the reprieve, noting that one-third of all outbound trips from Ireland go to Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. Corporate travel managers likewise gain more time to integrate ETIAS checks into booking flows and traveller-tracking tools.
Nevertheless, mobility advisers caution that EES enrolment will still expand during 2026, meaning Irish business travellers could be asked to provide fingerprints and facial images on first entry to Schengen. Companies should update pre-trip briefs and allow extra time at border control.
The Commission insists the delay is “technical, not political” and says the extra year will ensure border systems are stable before fee-paying registrations begin. Expect updated timelines—and potentially another slippage—in early 2027. (theportugalnews.com)
ETIAS will eventually require visa-exempt nationals—including Irish passport holders visiting Schengen countries for business or leisure—to complete an online pre-authorisation and pay a €7 fee before departure. Its deferral removes the risk of new red tape landing during the 2026 peak travel season. Airlines, airports and travel-management companies had warned that simultaneous deployment of EES biometric kiosks and ETIAS risked multi-hour queues.
For anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve, VisaHQ can simplify the process. Through its Irish portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/), the firm already tracks Schengen entry changes and will submit ETIAS applications on behalf of travellers as soon as the system opens, offering real-time updates and peace of mind for holidaymakers and corporate road warriors alike.
Irish tour operators welcomed the reprieve, noting that one-third of all outbound trips from Ireland go to Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. Corporate travel managers likewise gain more time to integrate ETIAS checks into booking flows and traveller-tracking tools.
Nevertheless, mobility advisers caution that EES enrolment will still expand during 2026, meaning Irish business travellers could be asked to provide fingerprints and facial images on first entry to Schengen. Companies should update pre-trip briefs and allow extra time at border control.
The Commission insists the delay is “technical, not political” and says the extra year will ensure border systems are stable before fee-paying registrations begin. Expect updated timelines—and potentially another slippage—in early 2027. (theportugalnews.com)
