to establish a Registered Traveller Programme that would allow pre-screened travellers easier access. ETIAS The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a planned electronic authorisation system for visa-exempt visitors to travel to the Schengen Area and to other EU member states, except Ireland, which remains in the Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom and other British Islands. The implementation of ETIAS has been postponed several times. As of 2023, it is expected to become operational in 2024, with 6-month grace period to allow travellers and staff to become familiar with the new system. Prospective visitors will need to complete an online application and a €7 fee must be paid by those aged 18 to 70. ETIAS is expected to process the vast majority of applications automatically by searching in electronic databases and then provide an immediate response but, in some limited cases, it may take up to 30 days. Single visa application platform The European Commission is planning to introduce a single online visa application platform at the EU level, replacing the separated national platforms. The platform will be built by eu-LISA and is scheduled to be introduced in 2026. A transition period for all member states to migrate to the single platform is scheduled to last until 2031. Reciprocity The EU requires that all Annex II countries and territories provide visa-free access for 90 days to nationals of all Schengen states and other EU countries implementing the common visa rules (Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, but not Ireland). If an Annex II country is found to not provide full reciprocity, the EU may decide to suspend the visa exemption for certain categories or later all nationals of that country. Since the adoption of this policy, full reciprocity has been achieved with all Annex II countries except the United States, which, requires visas from nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania. In November 2014, the Bulgarian government announced that it would not ratify the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership unless the United States lifted visa requirements for its nationals. Since the United States failed to lift the requirements, on 3 March 2017 the European Parliament approved a non-binding resolution calling on the European Commission to revoke the visa-free travel for US nationals to the Schengen Area. Some Annex II countries and territories also impose minor restrictions on nationals of EU or Schengen states that are not considered a breach