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While the U.K.’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) went into effect earlier this year, its equivalent in Europe, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), has been postponed again.
Earlier this month, representatives from across Europe discussed the implementation of the new Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border management system that will register the biometric details (such as fingerprints and facial images) of non-EU nationals who are travelling to Europe for a short stay. The EES will be progressively rolled out over a six-month period and is expected to become operational in October 2025. The system must be in effect before the ETIAS can be implemented.
That means the ETIAS requirement won’t go into effect until the last quarter of 2026. According to the European Union’s ETIAS website, “No action is required from travellers at this point.” More information will be posted several months before the entry system goes into effect.
For now, travellers to Europe will have one less thing to worry about.
The ETIAS, originally planned to take effect in January 2021, will be required of travellers entering any of the 29 member countries of Europe’s Schengen Zone. Those countries include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The application for the ETIAS will cost €7 ($12.72 Cdn.). Those under 18 and over 70 will also need ETIAS authorization, but the fee is waived.
After receiving approval, ETIAS travel authorization will be valid for up to three years. If you renew your passport, you will need to apply again.
Meanwhile, the U.K.’s ETA is required for all Canadians travelling to the country. The easiest way to apply is to download the app. To apply travellers will need to provide passport details, a valid email address and pay the £10 application fee ($18.17 Cdn.). Those with an ETA can stay in the country for up to six months. The ETA is valid for two years, but a new ETA will be required if you get a new passport.