Ukrainians traveling to Schengen countries under the visa-free regime will not have to pay 20 euros for prior entry authorization for now. The European Union has once again postponed the launch of the ETIAS system due to issues with another digital border control system. This was reported by the Financial Times.
The ETIAS system will not be operational until at least 2027
According to the publication, the European Union has decided to postpone the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) until at least 2027. The reason was the difficulties in implementing the Entry/Exit System (EES), which records the entry and exit of third-country nationals.
EES uses biometric identification. When crossing the border, travelers undergo fingerprint scanning and facial photography. This procedure has been one of the reasons for delays at checkpoints and airports.
Sources from the Financial Times report that in the agency eu-LISA, which is responsible for the EU's digital systems in the fields of security and migration, it is deemed impractical to launch ETIAS before the full stabilization of EES operations.
One of the publication's sources stated:
«First, the EES must be operational before launching another system that doubles the queues».
What is ETIAS and what does the postponement mean for Ukrainians
ETIAS will become a mandatory electronic permit for citizens of countries with a visa-free regime with the EU, including Ukraine. Before traveling, it will be necessary to:
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fill out an online application;
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undergo an automated security check;
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pay an administrative fee of 20 euros;
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receive an electronic permit before the trip.
According to EU estimates, the new rules will affect about 1.4 billion travelers from visa-free countries.
Until the launch of ETIAS, Ukrainians will still be able to enter Schengen countries under the existing visa-free regime without obtaining an electronic permit and without paying the new fee.
The initial launch of the EES was planned for 2022; however, it has been repeatedly postponed due to technical difficulties, issues with equipment procurement, and the unreadiness of certain member states. According to the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, queues are also affected by a shortage of border guards and underdeveloped infrastructure at many checkpoints.
It should be noted that long queues have emerged at airports in the European Union due to the new EES border control system, leading to partial flight cancellations.