ETIAS scheme delayed until 2027

The EU has confirmed that the ETIAS scheme has been delayed until 2027, meaning that British and other third-country visitors to Spain and other Schengen areas will not have to apply for a visa-waiver document costing €20 until April 2027 at the earliest.

The ETIAS scheme was scheduled for introduction this year, but difficulties with the EES biometric registration system mean that it has been pushed back until the EES system is functioning correctly. The current date given by the EU is November 2026.

However, a transition period of six months will apply, meaning that the document will not be compulsory until April 2027. After that, the EU will also operate a further 6-month grace period for first-time visitors from the UK, permitting entry without an ETIAS as long as all other requirements are met.

Once in place, the ETIAS scheme will require all passengers from third countries to apply for the visa-waiver at a cost of €20. An approved ETIAS will be valid for three years.

The EES machines are already in operation throughout Spain, and on Lanzarote, but are currently only being used on certain flights as the system is phased in. Until then, it is unclear whether passengers will have to register facial scans and fingerprints. 

The EES scheme is supposed to be fully operational by April this year, and passport stamping will continue for a further six months after that date.

Official information as to how the system is operating at Lanzarote is not available but we have received a number of accounts of long delays at the César Manrique Airport, along with many other reports that things are operating smoothly.

For the time being we’d advise arrivals to be aware that they may be required to register biometric information on the EES machines, but may also just be required to only pass through the e-gates that check passports.