A visa waiver that was due to launch for British tourists visiting some European countries has been put off until 2024.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) was initially set to come into force in November 2023, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com. Now pushed back again, officials have not given an exact date for the system but said it will be "launched very soon".
Once enforced, the online screening process will have to be completed by residents aged 18-70 of over 60 nations who can travel to the 27 EU Schengen Zone countries visa-free. The EU Commission has said the rescheduling is mainly down to technical issues and preparation delays from Member States.
Anitta Hipper, Commission’s Spokesperson for Home Affairs, Migration and Internal Security told the Record: "The revised timeline for the entry into operation of the Entry/Exit System is linked to several factors, which include delays in developing the system at central level by the contractor, but also in Member States when it comes to delays in the preparation for the necessary equipment to use the EES at the border crossing points.
"eu-LISA, which manages the contract, has already activated relevant penalties and the Commission has repeatedly met with the Consortia to address the concerns. We expect that the IT system enabling the operation of ETIAS will be available in the course of 2023. The current expected date for ETIAS to be fully operational is 2024.
"The exact date for the ETIAS go-live will be communicated as soon as it is available."
As it is a new system, there can be confusion as to what an ETIAS actually is, with the main misconception being that it's a stand alone visa. While it is understandable to think this, a visa waiver differs in cost, process and other requirements.
In addition, an ETIAS is not required for all EU countries and is needed for some non-member nations. Those who want to learn more about the waiver, including cost, you can find the EU travel change explained here.
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