ETIAS and EES: the timeline
Two different EU systems that are often confused. EES records your entries and exits at the border and is already running. ETIAS is an online authorization you will apply for before you go, but it hasn’t started and has no official start date.
Checked against official sources Oct 29, 2026
| EES (Entry/Exit System) | ETIAS | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Electronic registration at the border: fingerprints and a photo, replacing passport stamps | Online travel authorization you apply for before the trip |
| Status | Fully operational at every Schengen external border since April 10, 2026 | Not required yet. The EU has not published a start date; it says it will announce the date several months before ETIAS starts, followed by at least 6 months when it isn’t enforced strictly. |
| Do you apply? | No: it happens at the border | Yes, online, on the official EU site or app, once it starts |
| Cost | Free | €20 (when it starts) (free for under-18s and over-70s) |
| Valid for | Your record is kept for a set period | 3 years, or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner |
What has happened
- Jan 1, 2025
Bulgaria and Romania become full Schengen members, taking the area to 29 countries.
- Oct 12, 2025
EES starts, with a six-month progressive roll-out at Schengen external borders.
- Apr 10, 2026
EES fully operational at all external border crossings; passport stamping ends.
- Apr–May 2026
The European Commission says ETIAS is scheduled for the last quarter of 2026, with the exact date to be announced later.
What comes next
- As of Oct 29, 2026
The official ETIAS site still says ETIAS is not in operation and no start date is set; the EU will announce the date several months before launch.
- ETIAS launch
Transitional period of at least six months: travelers should have ETIAS, but aren’t refused without it if they meet the other conditions.
- 6+ months later
Grace period of at least six months: ETIAS required, except on a first entry since the transitional period ended. After that it’s required for everyone it applies to.
What it means for your trip
- Now: no ETIAS. Americans, Britons, Canadians and Australians visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period and register in EES at the border.
- Passport: valid 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, issued within the last 10 years.
- Cyprus will require ETIAS too but doesn’t use EES; Ireland uses neither.
Check your own dates with the trip check: it applies ETIAS only from its official start date, and counts your Schengen days. Details: ETIAS · EES · 90/180 calculator.
Official sources
- The new Entry/Exit System went live on 12 October - Migration and Home Affairs (13 October 2025) ·
On 12 October, 29 European countries started introducing Europe’s new digital border system - the Entry/Exit System (EES) at their external borders.
· checked 2026-10-29 - FAQs about EES - EES ·
This progressive implementation lasted until 9 April 2026. From 10 April 2026, the EES is fully operational at all external border crossing points of the European countries using the system.
· checked 2026-10-29 - How does the EES work? - EES ·
You will have to provide your personal data. Passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints. This information will be recorded in a digital file.
· checked 2026-10-29 - What is the EES? - EES ·
For the purpose of the EES, ‘non-EU national’ means a traveller not holding the nationality of any European Union country or the nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Main differences between the EES and ETIAS: What travellers need to know - Migration and Home Affairs (28 April 2026) ·
You can also pre-register your data within 72 hours prior to entering a European country using the “Travel to Europe” mobile app and this way speed up your border checks.
· checked 2026-10-29 - The Entry/Exit System will become fully operational on 10 April 2026 - Migration and Home Affairs (30 March 2026) ·
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) started operations on 12 October 2025 with a progressive roll-out in 29 European countries. As of 10 April 2026, the EES will become fully operational.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Entry requirements - France travel advice - GOV.UK (page updated 2026-10-22) ·
There is no cost for EES registration.
· checked 2026-10-29 - France Travel Advice & Safety - Smartraveller (updated 30 October 2026 AEST) ·
Be alert to fraudulent websites that say you need to register or pay a fee before you travel to the EU.
· checked 2026-10-29 - European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) - official site ·
ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point.
· checked 2026-10-29 - EU Open Day: Come and discover news on EU borders - Migration and Home Affairs (event 9 May 2026) ·
ETIAS - the European Travel Information and Authorisation System which is due to start operations in the last quarter of 2026.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Frequently asked questions - ETIAS ·
When applying using this official ETIAS website, you will be charged a fee of EUR 20. Applicants who are under 18 or over 70 years of age are exempt from this payment.
· checked 2026-10-29 - ETIAS timeline explained - ETIAS news corner (2025-02-18) ·
The launch of ETIAS will be followed by a transitional period of at least six months.
· checked 2026-10-29 - 5 things travel agents should know about ETIAS - ETIAS news corner (2026-07-05) ·
Group applications will not be accepted. Each traveller, including children, must submit their applications separately.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Who should apply - ETIAS ·
These 30 European countries require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorisation:
· checked 2026-10-29
If an official page says something different from this page, the official page is right. Tell us and we’ll fix it.
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Only when an official entry rule we track changes: a new travel authorization, a fee, a start date or a passport rule. At most once a week, with the official source for every change.