EU Once Again Postpones Implementation of ETIAS

The European Union has postponed until 2024 the travel registration requirement for nationals of countries who are permitted to travel to Schengen countries without a visa.

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is a new travel registration system for travelers to Europe who possess a passport of a country for which a visa is not required to enter a Schengen country. The system was originally scheduled to be in place in 2021 but has been delayed several times, with the most recent previous effective date of November 2023.

The change in implementation date to 2024 was included as part of the FAQs on the European Union website on ETIAS. No specific time frame within 2024 was provided, just the statement that “It is expected that the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be operational in 2024.” The EU has also delayed the implementation date for the Entry/Exit System (EES) until late 2023. The EES will be an automated system to collect certain information on foreign visa required and visa exempt travelers when they enter or exit an EU or Schengen Area border.

Once in effect, U.S. and other travelers to Europe who do not need a visa to visit countries in the Schengen zone will be required to first get approval under the system. The application process is expected to take about 10 minutes and will require applicants to provide their personal background information, a credit card to pay the €7 fee, and an email address to receive a response. If there are no issues with the application or background of the applicant, the system is expected to be able to provide approval within a matter of minutes.

Once approved, the registration is valid for five years. As is currently the policy, travelers will be permitted to spend 90 days in a 180-day period within the Schengen zone. A traveler may enter and leave the zone an unlimited number of times within that period. For periods longer than 180 days, travelers will need to obtain a Schengen visa. There will be an appeal process for those travelers whose applications are denied.

There are approximately 60 countries and territories including the United States in which citizens do not need a visa to enter countries comprising the Schengen zone and who will be required to receive approval under ETIAS. A complete list can be found on the ETIAS website.

The establishment of ETIAS will have a direct, but likely minimal, impact on workforce mobility. For most business travelers, the registration process will be a formality. ETIAS does not change the need for transferees to obtain a work visa, and they should not need to register under ETIAS, as it applies only to individuals waived from needing a visa. However, the consequences for business travelers who fail to register will be significant, as they will be prevented from boarding transportation to a country within the Schengen zone or will be turned back at the point of entry.