Europe has postponed the launch of ETIAS, its new pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers, to an unspecified future date.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe from the Gulf, South Asia, or Southeast Asia, this is good news, not a complication.
Nothing changes for how you enter Europe today, and you can keep booking flights and hotels exactly as you always have.
Europe Has Delayed ETIAS Again, With No New Launch Date
ETIAS has now slipped past every date the EU has previously set for it, and this time there is no replacement date on the table.
The European Commission states it “will inform about the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch.” In other words, whenever it does happen, travellers will get advance warning.
ETIAS has been rescheduled repeatedly since it was first proposed for 2021. The European Council had most recently pointed to the last quarter of 2026 as the likely launch window, contingent on the EU’s separate Entry/Exit System (EES) being fully operational first.
That EES rollout is exactly what derailed the 2026 target. EES had been rolling out in phases across Europe since October 2025 and became fully operational on 10 April 2026.
The system caused long queues at European airports over the summer as border staff and travellers adjusted to the new biometric checks, prompting the EU to hold off on layering ETIAS on top of it.
Book Your Europe Trip Now: Fares From the Gulf Are Business as Usual
With ETIAS paused indefinitely, there’s no reason to delay booking a Europe trip while you wait for a system that isn’t live. Flight prices from the Gulf are unaffected and bookable exactly as before.
As a live snapshot, here’s what round-trip economy fares from the Gulf to Europe looked like on a Wego search on 12 August 2026, for departure 15 September and return 22 September 2026:
Europe from the Gulf: cheapest return fare by route
Source: Wego, fares sampled 12 August 2026.
Nonstop options on full-service carriers to London are also available on the same dates at a higher fare. Prices change daily, so treat every figure above as a same-day reference point rather than a fixed quote.
If London isn’t your destination, the same “check now, book now” logic applies across the region. Popular Gulf-to-Europe routes worth comparing on Wego include:
- Flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah to Paris, Rome, or Madrid
- Flights from Doha or Riyadh to Athens or Barcelona
- Flights from Kuwait connecting onward through Istanbul to other European cities
Once you’ve locked in flights, you can compare hotels in London or other destination cities on Wego the same way you would for any other trip. There’s no ETIAS-related step to plan around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need ETIAS to fly to Europe right now?
No. The European Commission confirms ETIAS is not currently in operation and isn’t collecting applications, so travel continues under the entry rules that already apply to you.
When will ETIAS launch?
There’s no confirmed date. The EU has committed to announcing a launch date several months in advance, so there will be plenty of notice once one is set.
Will UAE nationals need ETIAS once it launches?
Yes. UAE passport holders currently enjoy visa-free entry to the Schengen area, which is exactly the group ETIAS is designed to pre-screen before it launches.
Do Saudi, Qatari, Kuwaiti, Bahraini, Omani, Indian, or Pakistani travellers need ETIAS?
No, because none of them are on the EU’s visa-exempt list to begin with. They need a Schengen visa today, and that requirement is unrelated to the ETIAS timeline.
How much will ETIAS cost when it eventually launches?
The planned fee is €20 per application, valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Sources
- European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs — European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
- European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs — Schengen Visa Policy
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annex I and Annex II Visa Requirement Lists
- European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs — Entry/Exit System Fully Operational From 10 April 2026
- Gulf News — Why UAE Travellers Now Face a Longer Wait for the New Schengen Travel Permit
- Open Jaw — EU Delays Launch of ETIAS Indefinitely
- Euronews — ETIAS: After EES Chaos, Will Europe’s New €20 Travel Authorisation System Be Delayed?
- Fragomen — European Union: ETIAS and EES Launch Status
- Al Jazeera — EU Border Rules Causing Travel Chaos Ahead of Summer Peak, Industry Warns
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
