EES is live, ETIAS is not: what to tell clients heading to Europe

The EU Entry/Exit System is fully live and ETIAS is not yet running. What each one means for non-EU travellers and what agents should tell clients now.

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Europe's Entry/Exit System has been fully running since April 2026. ETIAS still has no start date. Here is the difference in plain words, and the script we would use with clients.

By Traviology · Published 2026-10-10

Two acronyms keep turning up in client emails: EES and ETIAS. People mix them up, and some travel articles still describe both as "coming soon". One of them is already part of every trip to Schengen Europe. The other has no start date. Getting that straight is most of the job.

EES: already in force

The Entry/Exit System is an automated register of non-EU nationals who travel to 29 European countries for a short stay, meaning up to 90 days in any 180-day period. According to the European Commission's Migration and Home Affairs department, it records:

• name and travel document details

• fingerprints and a facial image

• date and place of each entry and exit

• refusals of entry

It started in stages on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. Passport stamping is over. The system flags overstayers automatically.

What this means for a client:

• Nothing to apply for in advance. EES happens at the border. Fingerprints and a photo are taken at the external border crossing.

• The first crossing may take longer. Plan connection times and transfer pick-ups with that in mind.

• Optional pre-registration. The Commission says travellers can pre-register their data within 72 hours of entering via the "Travel to Europe" mobile app, in countries that use it. Not every country does, so check before suggesting it.

• It shows up at train stations too. Eurostar, for example, now mentions EES registration in its advice on when to arrive for London departures.

EES applies to visa holders and visa-exempt travellers alike. A citizen of India travelling on a Schengen visa goes through EES, and so does a US citizen who needs no visa.

ETIAS: not running yet

ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers. Here is what the official EU pages say right now:

• ETIAS is currently not in operation, and no applications are being collected.

• The EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch.

So when a client asks "Do I need ETIAS for my trip in December?", the honest answer is no, not at the moment.

On timing, official messaging has moved. In April 2026 the European Commission said ETIAS was scheduled for the last quarter of 2026. The official ETIAS pages no longer repeat that and say only that ETIAS is not in operation and that the start date will be announced several months before launch. On 5 October 2026, the Polish embassy in Canada said on gov.pl that the launch is planned for 2027, with the date to be communicated later. We would not give clients a date until the EU publishes one.

What ETIAS will involve when it starts

Based on the EU's published design:

• It will cover visa-exempt travellers to 30 countries: the Schengen states plus Cyprus.

• Applications are filed through the official ETIAS website or app. The EU's FAQ says an agent or other intermediary can apply for a client with a signed declaration of representation, but any extra fee they charge is not part of the official fee. The Commission also warns about third-party sites that charge extra or misuse personal data.

• Most applications should be approved within minutes. The EU FAQ says some take up to 96 hours, and up to 30 days if more information or an interview is needed. Approval is needed before boarding, so travellers shouldn't leave it to the airport.

• An approval will be linked to the passport and valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. A new passport means a new ETIAS.

• Carriers will check for it before departure.

• The fee has been set at EUR 20, up from the original EUR 7, and applies once the system is running. Travellers under 18 or over 70 do not pay it.

• Holding an ETIAS does not guarantee entry. Border officers still check every entry condition.

The two-line version for clients

For anyone non-EU going to Schengen Europe this autumn or winter:

"Your fingerprints and photo will be taken at the border the first time you enter, so allow extra time. There's nothing to apply for in advance yet. If a website asks you to pay for ETIAS today, it is not official."

Visa nationals still apply for a Schengen visa as before. Neither system replaces the visa.

Where agents can actually help

Put a line about EES in every Europe itinerary you send, not only the first. Be generous with tight connections that involve a Schengen entry, and with the first rail or ferry departure after arrival. And keep one internal note with the date you last checked the official ETIAS page, then recheck it before each quote. This is one area where last month's answer can be wrong.

Sources

• Entry/Exit System (EES) (European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs)

• Main differences between the EES and ETIAS: what travellers need to know (European Commission, 28 April 2026)

• European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) (European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs)

• ETIAS frequently asked questions (Travel to Europe, official EU site)

• Introduction of ETIAS in 2027 (Embassy of Poland in Canada, gov.pl, 5 October 2026)

• What time should I arrive at the station? (Eurostar Help Centre)

Checked October 2026. ETIAS timing is still moving, so recheck the official pages before quoting.