UAE travellers heading to Europe’s Schengen area will have to wait longer for a new travel authorisation requirement, after the European Union scrapped its planned 2026 launch date for ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) this week.
ETIAS has faced repeated delays since it was first expected to launch in 2021. The EU had more recently pointed to late 2026, but the system is now officially “not in operation,” with a new start date to be announced only a few months before it goes live.
For now, nothing changes for UAE travellers. Visa-exempt visitors can continue entering participating European countries under existing rules, no ETIAS applications are being accepted, and no fee should be paid. Those who currently need a Schengen visa must keep applying as usual.
Once active, ETIAS will apply to 30 European countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Eligible travellers will apply online for a fee of around €20, with approval valid for three years or until the passport expires, covering multiple trips within the usual 90-days-in-180 short-stay limit.
ETIAS is separate from the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which handles border processing and does not signal ETIAS’s launch.
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