ETIAS will finally arrive in October. Here is what visa-free travellers must do
After three postponements, the Schengen-area travel authorisation is now firmly scheduled.
Brussels has confirmed an October 2026 go-live for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). British, Canadian and 56 other passport holders who today enter Schengen visa-free will need a €7 online authorisation before boarding.
Approval is expected to take minutes for the vast majority — the system is modelled on the American ESTA — but the authorisation will be valid for three years rather than two, a small upgrade on earlier drafts.
Travel professionals are already updating booking flows. Cruise lines and tour operators have a six-month grace period to integrate the requirement, but airlines have none.
For frequent visitors to France, this is a routine adjustment. For multi-country tours and last-minute weekend trips, the lesson is to apply at home, not at the gate.
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