Europe’s borders are changing in two steps, and the two are easy to confuse. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is already running. Since 10 April 2026, non-EU visitors on short stays in 29 European countries have their facial image recorded at the border instead of getting a passport stamp, plus their fingerprints if they travel without a visa. ETIAS, the €20 travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, has not started yet, and the EU has not published an ETIAS start date.
This guide covers every passport. It explains who each system applies to, what to do before your next trip, and how to avoid websites that charge for an ETIAS you cannot yet apply for. We checked each rule, fee and date on official EU and UK government pages on 5 October 2026. The links are in the Sources list at the end.
EES and ETIAS: quick answer
- EES is live. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational at every external border crossing point of the 29 countries using it since 10 April 2026. Travellers registered in the EES no longer get passport stamps.
- Who the EES applies to: non-EU nationals on a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period), with or without a visa. There is nothing to apply for before you travel, and the UK government confirms there is no cost for EES registration.
- ETIAS has not started. The official ETIAS website says it is “currently not in operation” and is not collecting applications. The EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch. When we checked on 5 October 2026, no date had been published.
- Who will need ETIAS: nationals of 59 visa-exempt countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, the UAE, Brazil and Malaysia. It will cover trips to 30 European countries.
- Who will not: anyone who needs a Schengen visa (for example Indian, Nigerian, Filipino, Saudi or South African passport holders), EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and most holders of a residence permit or long-stay visa from one of these countries.
- ETIAS fee and validity: €20, free for applicants under 18 or over 70. Valid for 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
- Where to apply, once it opens: the only official channels are the ETIAS website, travel-europe.europa.eu/etias, and the official ETIAS app.
EES vs ETIAS at a glance
| EES (Entry/Exit System) | ETIAS | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A digital record of each entry, exit and refusal of entry, replacing passport stamps | A travel authorisation you get online before a visa-free trip. It is not a visa |
| Status on 5 October 2026 | Fully operational since 10 April 2026 | Not in operation; no start date published |
| Who it applies to | Non-EU nationals on short stays, with or without a visa | Nationals of 59 visa-exempt countries and territories |
| Countries | 29: the Schengen area (every EU country except Cyprus and Ireland, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) | 30: the same 29 plus Cyprus |
| When it happens | At the border, every time you cross | Online, before you travel |
| Biometrics | Facial image, plus 4 fingerprints if you travel without a visa | None: no fingerprints, no health or vaccination data |
| Cost | No cost for registration | €20; free under 18 and over 70 |
| How long it lasts | Records kept for 3 years (5 years if no exit is recorded) | Valid for 3 years or until your passport expires |
What is the EES?
The EU describes the Entry/Exit System as an automated IT system that registers non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external border of a country using it. A “non-EU national” here means anyone who is not a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. A “short stay” means up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted as one period across all the countries using the EES.
It applies whether you need a short-stay visa or not. Your entries, exits and any refusal of entry are recorded electronically. If you overstay, the system detects it automatically.
The 29 countries using the EES
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Cyprus and Ireland are EU members but do not use the EES. The EU says passports are still stamped manually there.
EES timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 30 July 2025 | The European Commission set the EES launch date |
| 12 October 2025 | Progressive start: countries introduced registration in phases, and stamps and electronic records ran side by side |
| 9 April 2026 | End of the 6-month progressive period |
| 10 April 2026 | EES fully operational at all external border crossing points. Manual stamping ended, and the automated stay calculator and overstayer list started |
What happens at the border
Your first crossing since the EES started. A passport control officer will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints, and create your digital file. Your passport will not be stamped. The EU says this can be quicker if you register some data in advance at a self-service kiosk (where the border crossing has one) or in the Travel to Europe app (where the country offers it). Either way, you still see a passport control officer.
Later crossings. Your face and fingerprints are already on file, so officers only verify them, which takes less time. In rare cases your data may be collected again. With a biometric passport you can use self-service systems where they exist. If your file is clear, you usually do not need to see an officer.
When you leave. The UK government says you may also need to give a fingerprint or photo when you exit the Schengen area. If you are flying out, allow extra time to reach your gate, as EES checks may take place before boarding.
What the EES records:
- your travel document details, such as full name and date of birth
- the date and place of each entry and exit
- your facial image and fingerprints
- whether you were refused entry
Visa holders and fingerprints. If you hold a Schengen visa, the EES stores only your facial image, because your fingerprints were taken for your visa. If you travel without a visa, it stores 4 fingerprints and your facial image.
Children. The EU says the fingerprints of children under 12 are not currently scanned, although they are still registered. The UK government’s France travel advice puts it the same way: children aged 11 or younger are not fingerprinted but may be photographed.
Refusing is not an option. If you refuse to give your fingerprints or facial image, you will be refused entry.
Leaving from the UK by sea, tunnel or rail? The UK government says that if you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International, your EES information is taken at the border before you leave the UK. Allow time for it there.
You do not need a biometric passport to cross. The EU says both biometric and non-biometric passports are accepted if they are valid. You only need a biometric passport to use the self-service kiosks.
The Travel to Europe app
The EU’s Travel to Europe app lets travellers who are subject to the EES pre-register their passport data and facial image, and answer the entry questions, within 72 hours before they enter or leave a country that offers it. It is optional, it needs a biometric passport, and it does not replace the border check.
When we checked, the official page said the app worked when entering Sweden (passport data, facial image and entry questionnaire) and Portugal (entry questionnaire only). Other countries may add it later. Download it only from the links on the official EES website.
Who the EES does not apply to
The EES does not apply to, among others:
- citizens of the countries using the EES, and of Cyprus and Ireland
- holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
- non-EU family members of EU citizens who hold a residence card
- nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, and holders of passports issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See
- people exempt from border checks, such as heads of state and accredited diplomats, and some cross-border workers
UK nationals who live in the EU under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement are exempt only if they hold a qualifying residence document. The full list, with the legal basis, is on the official “To whom does the EES not apply?” page.
How long is your EES data kept?
| Record | Kept for |
|---|---|
| Each entry, exit and refusal of entry | 3 years from the date it was created |
| Your individual file | 3 years and 1 day from your last exit or refusal of entry |
| If no exit is recorded | 5 years from the end of your authorised stay |
Shorter rules apply to some non-EU family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. The official “Data held by the EES” page has the details.
Border, visa and immigration authorities can see your data, as can law enforcement and Europol under the EU’s rules. Airlines and other carriers can only check whether a visa holder has used up the entries on their visa.
Check how many days you have left
The official Check how long you can stay tool on the EES website gives an “OK” or “NOT OK” answer and the number of days you have left in the 90-day limit. The EU says this answer is not a decision to grant or refuse entry. You enter the country, your travel document type and number, the three-letter code of the country that issued it (for example “CAN” for Canada) and your planned dates. Some border crossings have equipment that shows the same information, or you can ask a passport control officer.
The official page notes that the tool does not count any stay that began before 10 April 2026, even if it continued after that date. If you have questions about your result, the EU says to contact the authorities of the country where you last entered or left the Schengen area. If you have not visited since 10 April 2026, contact the authorities of the country you plan to visit.
ETIAS start date: what the EU says now
When we checked on 5 October 2026, the official ETIAS website, its FAQ and the European Commission’s ETIAS page all said the same thing: ETIAS is not in operation, no applications are being collected, and the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. None of them gave a date.
Some background, because you will see older dates online:
- On 5 March 2025, EU home affairs ministers endorsed a revised timeline. Under it, ETIAS was expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, after the EES.
- Some news articles on the official ETIAS website still mention the last quarter of 2026, including one dated 16 April 2026 about UK nationals. The UK government’s EES guidance, last updated on 10 April 2026, still says ETIAS is expected from autumn 2026. The main ETIAS pages no longer give a quarter or a date.
- In July 2026, news outlets including Euronews, citing a Financial Times report, said ETIAS was unlikely to launch in 2026, and many now point to 2027. This is press reporting, not an EU announcement. The EU had not confirmed that, or any other date, when we checked.
What this means for you: if you hold a visa-exempt passport, there is no ETIAS to apply for today. You can travel under the current rules, and the EES applies at the border. We will update this guide when the EU publishes the date.
After launch: transitional and grace periods
The EU says the start of ETIAS will be followed by transitional and grace periods lasting at least 12 months in total:
- Transitional period (at least 6 months). You should apply for ETIAS. If you do not have one, you will not be refused entry for that reason alone, as long as you meet the other entry conditions.
- Grace period (at least 6 months). You must have an ETIAS. The only exception is for travellers entering for the first time since the transitional period ended; they can still enter without one if they meet the other conditions.
- After that, visa-exempt travellers without a valid ETIAS will be refused entry, unless an exemption applies.
Who will need ETIAS?
ETIAS will apply to nationals of visa-exempt countries and territories visiting any of 30 European countries for a short stay: the 29 countries using the EES, plus Cyprus.
On 5 October 2026, the official list of the 59 visa-exempt countries and territories whose nationals will need ETIAS was: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Macao, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The EU’s visa lists can change. Check the official “Who should apply” page before you travel.
Some passports have extra conditions. Holders of passports from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia need a biometric passport. Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine passports must be biometric and meet ICAO standards. For Hong Kong and Macao, only the Special Administrative Region passports qualify, and Taiwan passports must include an identity card number. With any other passport, you need a visa instead.
UK nationals will need ETIAS for short stays. The exception is UK nationals covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement who hold a Withdrawal Agreement residence document from one of the 30 countries. Those whose host country is Ireland are not exempt, and documents issued by Cyprus exempt you only for Cyprus.
A few visa-required nationals can use ETIAS instead of a visa, such as pupils on a school trip who live in a visa-exempt country, and some refugees and stateless people. The official page sets out the conditions, and advises checking with the consulates first.
Your passport decides, not where you live
ETIAS depends on the passport you travel on. Where you live usually does not change it:
- An Indian citizen living in Dubai still needs a Schengen visa, not ETIAS. An Emirati citizen will need ETIAS.
- A British citizen living in Saudi Arabia will need ETIAS. A Saudi citizen needs a Schengen visa.
- A Filipino citizen with a US green card still needs a Schengen visa.
- A dual national of one of the 30 countries or Ireland does not need ETIAS, but must travel on that European passport.
Who will not need ETIAS
- Citizens of the 30 countries and of Ireland
- Anyone who needs a visa: travellers with a valid Schengen visa do not also need ETIAS
- Holders of a residence permit issued by one of the 30 countries (permits issued by Cyprus count only for Cyprus, and permits issued by Ireland do not count)
- Holders of an EU residence card issued to family members of EU citizens, including those issued by Ireland
- Holders of a national long-stay visa
- Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, and holders of a Vatican City State or Holy See passport
- Holders of diplomatic, service or special passports (a visa may still be required)
- Passengers who stay in the international transit area of an airport. If you pass through passport control to change terminals or airports, you will need ETIAS
This is not the full list. The official “Who should apply” page sets out every exemption.
Travelling by land, sea or rail
ETIAS will apply however you travel. The EU says:
- By car: every person, including children, needs their own ETIAS. Border guards check at the crossing.
- By bus: border guards check on arrival. Bus companies have three years from the start of ETIAS before they must check it at boarding.
- By train: train operators do not have to check ETIAS. For trains from the UK, border guards check it before you board.
ETIAS fee, validity and processing time
| Item | What the official ETIAS pages say |
|---|---|
| Fee | €20, paid online by card. Non-refundable |
| Who pays nothing | Applicants under 18 or over 70, and qualifying family members of EU nationals |
| Validity | 3 years, or until the passport you applied with expires, whichever comes first |
| Stay allowed | Enter as often as you like for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Cyprus are counted separately |
| Most applications | Processed within minutes |
| If it takes longer | A reply within 4 days (96 hours) |
| If more information is requested | Up to 14 days longer |
| If you are invited to an interview | Up to 30 days longer |
| New passport | You need a new ETIAS |
| Renewal | You can apply for a new one 120 days before your current ETIAS expires |
| Printout | Not needed: airlines and border guards see it in the system |
The EU advises applying before you buy tickets or book accommodation. An ETIAS does not guarantee entry: border guards make the final decision, check that you meet the entry conditions and may ask for more documents.
What ETIAS will ask for
You will need your passport, a payment card and an email address you can access. The official pages say the form will ask for:
- your name, date and place of birth, nationality, home address, parents’ first names, email address and phone number
- your passport details
- your education and current occupation
- your travel plans, including the first country you intend to stay in and the address of your destination
- any criminal convictions, travel to war or conflict zones, and recent decisions requiring you to leave a country
ETIAS will not ask for health or vaccination information, and it does not collect fingerprints.
Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave the 30 countries and should have been issued within the last 10 years. There are no group applications: each traveller, including each child, needs their own. A parent or legal guardian applies for children under 18.
On third-party websites: EU rules let someone else, including a commercial company, apply on your behalf if you both sign a declaration of representation. The EU does not license any of them. Applying directly costs €20; anything more goes to the intermediary. In July 2026, the EU warned that there are many unofficial ETIAS websites, and that some falsely claim to accept applications or charge higher fees. An earlier EU warning said some use the EU logo or collect personal data. Official EU websites end in europa.eu.
What to do before your next trip to Europe
- Check whether your passport needs a visa. Use the EU’s “Who should apply” page. If you are visa-exempt, ETIAS will apply to you once it starts. If not, you need a Schengen visa as before.
- Check your passport dates. For short stays, it should have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave.
- If you need a visa, apply as usual. EES registration happens at the border. The EES stores only your facial image, because your fingerprints were taken for your visa. Our guide to Schengen visa travel insurance covers the €30,000 medical cover rule.
- If you are visa-exempt, do not pay for ETIAS now. No applications are being collected. Any site taking money for ETIAS today is not the EU, and the UK government calls such sales fraudulent.
- Allow extra time on your first crossing since the EES started, when your photo and fingerprints are registered, and when you leave. Avoid tight connections where you enter the Schengen area.
- Entering Sweden or Portugal? You can use the Travel to Europe app within 72 hours before you arrive (in Portugal, only for the entry questionnaire). Check the official app page, as other countries may add it.
- Count your days with the official “Check how long you can stay” tool, especially if you travel to Europe often.
- When ETIAS opens, apply only on travel-europe.europa.eu/etias or the official app, before you buy tickets, using the passport you will travel with.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying a website for an “ETIAS application” before ETIAS has started
- Thinking ETIAS is a visa, or that visa holders need ETIAS as well
- Assuming that living in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US or the UK changes the visa rule for your passport
- Booking a short connection for your first entry since the EES started
- Travelling on a passport issued more than 10 years ago, or one that expires less than 3 months after you leave
- Counting 90 days per country: the limit covers all 29 EES countries together (Cyprus is counted separately)
- Refusing fingerprints or a photo at the border, which leads to refusal of entry
- Once ETIAS starts: renewing your passport and forgetting to apply for a new ETIAS
How Voyfaro can help
- Entry rules: we point you to the official EU sources and explain them in plain English. We do not issue or guarantee visas or travel authorisations, and we do not apply for ETIAS or register you in the EES. See our visa guidance.
- Bookings: we help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and travel insurance from trusted partners we reach through the Travelpayouts affiliate network. Flexible fares and free-cancellation stays are worth a look while your visa is pending.
- Mobile data: an eSIM keeps maps and your booking emails working from the moment you land. Read eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM.
- You stay in control: you book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
- Questions? Contact us with your passport, where you live, your dates and the countries you plan to visit.
FAQ
What is the ETIAS start date?
There is none yet. When we checked on 5 October 2026, the official ETIAS website said ETIAS is not in operation and the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. An earlier EU timeline pointed to the last quarter of 2026. Since July 2026, press reports have pointed to 2027, but the EU has not confirmed any date. We will update this guide when the EU publishes one.
Is the EES the same as ETIAS?
No. The EES records your entries and exits, with fingerprints and a photo, at the border. It is already running. ETIAS is an online travel authorisation for visa-free travellers, applied for before the trip. It has not started.
Do I need to do anything before I travel because of the EES?
No. There is nothing to apply for and nothing to pay. Registration happens at the border the first time you cross since the EES started. When entering Sweden or Portugal, you can choose to use the Travel to Europe app within 72 hours before (in Portugal, only for the entry questionnaire).
Do US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens need ETIAS?
Yes, once ETIAS starts. All four countries are on the official list of 59 visa-exempt countries and territories. Until then, they travel under the current visa-free rules, and the EES applies at the border.
I live in the UAE. Do I need ETIAS or a Schengen visa?
It depends on your passport. Emirati citizens will need ETIAS. Residents with a passport that needs a visa, such as an Indian, Pakistani or Filipino passport, still need a Schengen visa, and ETIAS does not apply to them.
How much will ETIAS cost, and how long is it valid?
€20, non-refundable, and free for applicants under 18 or over 70. It is valid for 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Do children have their fingerprints taken under the EES?
The EU says fingerprints of children under 12 are not currently scanned, although children are still registered and may be photographed.
Can Voyfaro apply for my ETIAS?
No. We do not apply for or issue ETIAS travel authorisations or visas. When ETIAS opens, apply on the official website or app. We can help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and insurance for your trip.
Sources
Official pages we checked on 5 October 2026:
- European Union, What is the EES? (definition, the 29 countries, 90 days in any 180, manual stamping in Cyprus and Ireland)
- European Union, How does the EES work? (first and later crossings, no stamp, self-service systems, app)
- European Union, FAQs about EES (progressive start until 9 April 2026, fully operational from 10 April 2026, end of manual stamping, biometrics for visa holders and visa-free travellers, children under 12, biometric passports, UK Withdrawal Agreement residents, who to contact about your remaining stay)
- European Union, Data held by the EES (data collected, refusal to give biometrics, who can access data, carriers, retention periods)
- European Union, To whom does the EES not apply? (exemptions, Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 Article 2(3))
- European Union, Travel to Europe mobile app (72-hour window, biometric passport, Sweden and Portugal)
- European Union, Check how long you can stay (online tool, “OK” or “NOT OK” answer, information needed, stays that began before 10 April 2026 not counted)
- European Union, What is ETIAS (not in operation, start date to be announced several months ahead, €20 fee, validity, processing times, Cyprus counted separately, check-list)
- European Union, Who should apply (30 countries, the 59 visa-exempt countries and territories, exemptions, school trips, refugees and stateless people, UK nationals)
- European Union, What you need to apply (travel document rules, extra passport conditions, information requested, minors, fee exemptions)
- European Union, ETIAS frequently asked questions (96-hour reply, first country of stay and destination address, no group applications, refunds, airport transit, renewal, printouts, intermediaries, entry not guaranteed)
- European Union, ETIAS timeline explained, 19 February 2025 (transitional and grace periods)
- European Union, Revised timeline for the EES and ETIAS, 14 April 2025 (5 March 2025 ministers’ timeline: last quarter of 2026; transitional and grace periods of at least 12 months)
- European Union, UK nationals and ETIAS, 16 April 2026 (last quarter of 2026 still mentioned; checks before boarding in the UK; Withdrawal Agreement documents from Ireland and Cyprus)
- European Union, 5 things travel agents should know about ETIAS, 6 July 2026 (no group applications, unofficial websites)
- European Union, Key differences ETIAS and the EES, 9 January 2025 (ETIAS covers the 29 Schengen countries plus Cyprus; ETIAS is not a visa; no action needed before the trip for the EES)
- European Union, Applying for ETIAS: no health information or biometrics needed, 13 June 2023 (no health, vaccination or biometric data)
- European Union, Emergence of unofficial websites, 3 April 2023 (unofficial sites, EU logo misuse, no licences for intermediaries, europa.eu domain)
- European Union, Travelling to Europe with ETIAS by land, 18 December 2025 (car, bus and train rules)
- European Union, Flying to Europe with ETIAS, 25 April 2025 (airport transit and changing terminals)
- European Commission (Migration and Home Affairs), Entry/Exit System (EES) (launch date set on 30 July 2025, start on 12 October 2025, fully operational on 10 April 2026)
- European Commission (Migration and Home Affairs), ETIAS (not in operation, start date to be announced several months ahead, €20 fee)
- UK government, France travel advice: entry requirements (no cost for EES registration; checks on exit; EES checks at Dover, Folkestone and St Pancras before leaving the UK; children aged 11 or younger; passport issue and expiry dates)
- UK government, EU Entry/Exit System, last updated 10 April 2026 (ETIAS still described as expected from autumn 2026; websites selling ETIAS now are doing so fraudulently)
News report (not an official source), checked on 5 October 2026:
- Euronews, ETIAS: After EES chaos, will Europe’s new €20 travel authorisation system be delayed?, 8 July 2026 (Financial Times report that ETIAS was unlikely to launch in 2026; no official change confirmed)