The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a planned electronic authorisation system of the European Union for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the European Union or the Schengen Area, as well as Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania with the exception of Ireland, which is part of the Common Travel Area. The European Parliament and European Council gave their respective approvals on 12 September 2018. The implementation of ETIAS has been postponed several times. As of 2023, it is expected to become operational in 2024, with a 6-month transitional grace period to allow eligible travellers and staff to become familiar with the new system, and to catch possible technical problems.