EES · ETIAS — Last checked 5 November 2026
News
Every development around EES and ETIAS, dated and sourced. Newest first.
Latest news
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No ETIAS start date yet
Travel guides tracking the system report that no new launch date has been announced. The official site still says applications are not being collected.
Source: Schengentraveler ↗ -
Revised ETIAS schedule under review
The board of eu-LISA, the EU agency building ETIAS, was expected to discuss a revised timeline in September. No official outcome has been published.
Source: Navan ↗ -
2026 launch target dropped
The “last quarter of 2026” target disappeared from the official ETIAS website. Media point to problems with the EES rollout as the reason. 2027 is now the working expectation.
Source: The Points Guy ↗ -
Long queues in the first weeks of full EES
Reports from major airports describe extended queues and some missed connections after passport stamps were fully replaced by EES.
Source: EY Global Tax News ↗ -
EES is fully operational
All 29 participating countries now register every short-stay entry and exit digitally. Manual passport stamping has ended.
Source: eucrim ↗ -
EES begins its phased launch
Border posts start registering non-EU travellers digitally, with a six-month rollout before full operation.
Source: European Commission ↗ -
ETIAS fee set to rise to €20
The planned ETIAS fee goes up from the original €7 to €20. Under-18s and over-70s are expected to remain exempt.
Source: The Local ↗
Timeline
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2027ETIAS Expected
ETIAS launch expected (not confirmed)
After launch: at least 6 months where ETIAS is optional, then at least 6 months of grace before it is strictly required.
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19 October 2026ETIAS Not started
Still no official start date
No applications are being collected. The EU says it will announce the date several months before launch.
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approx. July 2026ETIAS Changed
“Last quarter of 2026” target dropped
Several outlets report that the official ETIAS site no longer mentions a 2026 start. Reports point to EES issues as the reason.
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10 April 2026EES Done
EES fully operational, passport stamps end
All 29 EES countries now register every short-stay entry and exit. Some large airports reported long queues in the first weeks.
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12 October 2025EES Done
EES starts in phases
Border posts begin registering non-EU travellers digitally, step by step over six months.
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1 January 2025Schengen Done
Bulgaria and Romania join Schengen fully
Land border checks with both countries end. They are now part of the EES area.