Is ETIAS live yet? ETIAS launch date tracker
Status as of 2026-10-25: ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being collected. The EU says it will announce the start date "several months prior to its launch."
Short answer: no. ETIAS is not live, there is no official start date, and you cannot apply anywhere today.
What is officially confirmed
| Item | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ETIAS operating? | No. "Currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected" | travel-europe.europa.eu (official ETIAS site) |
| Official start date | None announced. The EU will announce it "several months prior to its launch" | European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs: ETIAS |
| Fee once live | EUR 20 (previously EUR 7) | European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs: ETIAS |
| Transitional period after launch | 6 months, followed by a grace period | European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs: ETIAS |
| EES (Entry/Exit System) | Fully operational since 10 April 2026 | European Commission: Entry/Exit System |
What is reported but NOT confirmed
Unconfirmed: Earlier Commission wording pointed to the "last quarter of 2026"; that wording no longer appears on the official pages we checked. Travel-industry and press reports (for example ABTA, 13 Oct 2026, and coverage citing eu-LISA) suggest a 2026 start is unlikely. No EU body has published a new date. Treat any specific date you see elsewhere as speculation until it appears on europa.eu.
What this means for your trip
- If you travel before the EU announces a date and that date arrives, you need nothing new for ETIAS. You still go through EES biometric registration at the border.
- When a date is announced, the Commission says a 6-month transitional period and then a grace period follow. (Unconfirmed detail: exactly how strictly ETIAS is enforced during those periods should be checked on the official site when the date is announced.) We will update this page the day the EU announces anything.
Timeline
- 2018: ETIAS created by Regulation (EU) 2018/1240.
- 12 Oct 2025: EES progressive start. 10 Apr 2026: EES fully operational, passport stamping replaced.
- Fee raised to EUR 20 (confirmed on the Commission page).
- ETIAS start: not yet announced.
Sources
- travel-europe.europa.eu (official ETIAS site)
- European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs: ETIAS
- European Commission: Entry/Exit System
More guides
- ETIAS fee: why it is EUR 20 and who does not pay
- Do UK citizens need ETIAS after Brexit?
- Do Americans need ETIAS? ETIAS for US citizens
- ETIAS requirements: documents and information checklist
- ETIAS scam sites: how to spot a fake ETIAS website
- How long does ETIAS take and how long is it valid?
- ETIAS vs EES: what is the difference?
- Official ETIAS website vs third-party agencies
- Who needs ETIAS? Countries, travellers and exemptions