EES and ETIAS Explained: Europe's New Entry Rules for 2026–2027

If you travel to Europe from the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, the Gulf or Asia, you have probably seen news about "new EU entry rules". There are two systems, EES and ETIAS, and they are often confused. This guide explains what each one is, what has already changed, what is still coming, and how to prepare, including your phone.

Key facts

• EES (Entry/Exit System): an electronic register of entries and exits of non-EU travelers for short stays. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
• What EES records: your passport details, fingerprints, a facial image, and the date and place of each entry and exit. It replaces passport stamps.
• Where EES applies: 29 European countries, the EU countries except Cyprus and Ireland, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System): an online travel authorisation for visitors who do not need a visa. It is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026. No launch date had been announced on 7 November 2026.
• ETIAS fee: the EU has announced a fee of €20, with exemptions for travelers under 18 and over 70.
• ETIAS validity: up to three years, or until your passport expires if that is sooner.
• The UK is separate: visitors to the UK need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for on GOV.UK. It costs £20.

EES vs ETIAS vs UK ETA

What happens at the border with EES

At your first entry after EES started, a border officer or a self-service kiosk takes your fingerprints and a photo of your face, and scans your passport. On later trips, you usually only need a face scan or a fingerprint check. Children under 12 do not give fingerprints.

What this means for you:

• Allow extra time at the border on your first trip, especially at busy airports, ferry ports and the Channel crossings.
• Your stay is calculated automatically. EES counts your days within the 90/180-day short-stay limit, so overstaying is easy to detect.
• No more stamps in your passport for entries and exits in EES countries.

What to expect with ETIAS

When ETIAS starts, travelers who do not need a visa will apply online before their trip. Most applications are expected to be approved within minutes, but some can take longer. The EU has said there will be a transition period after launch, before ETIAS becomes compulsory.

Until the EU announces the start date:

• You do not need ETIAS to travel to Europe.
• Do not pay anyone for an ETIAS application. The service does not exist yet.
• Check travel-europe.europa.eu before trips planned for late 2026 and 2027.

Your phone and the new border rules

Your phone does more on a trip to Europe than before: booking confirmations, boarding passes, your ETIAS or ETA approval once you have one, and travel insurance details. If your phone has no data when you land, finding these in your email is harder.

What helps:

• Install a Europe eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you fly. Your plan starts when the eSIM first connects in Europe, so installing early costs you nothing.
• Save your documents offline: screenshots or PDFs of your boarding pass, hotel booking, return ticket and travel authorisation.
• Keep your home line on for SMS codes from your bank and airline, with data roaming switched off on it.
• Check the country list if your trip includes the UK, Switzerland or other countries outside the EU: many European plans cover them, but not all.

For trips through several countries, see our Schengen eSIM guide and the best eSIM for Europe.

Prepare for your trip

1. Check whether you need a visa for the Schengen area for your passport. EES applies to you either way.
2. Before booking, check travel-europe.europa.eu for the latest ETIAS news, and apply for a UK ETA on GOV.UK if your trip includes the UK.
3. Make sure your passport is valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave Europe.
4. Choose a Europe eSIM that lists every country on your route, and install it at home on Wi-Fi.
5. Save your boarding passes, bookings and any travel authorisation as screenshots or PDFs.
6. At the border, allow extra time for your first EES registration, then switch on your eSIM for mobile data.

Frequently asked questions

What is the EES?

The Entry/Exit System is the EU's electronic register of non-EU travelers' entries and exits for short stays. It records your passport details, fingerprints and a facial image, and replaces passport stamps.

When did the EES start?

EES started progressively on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.

When does ETIAS start?

ETIAS is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026. On 7 November 2026, the EU had not announced a launch date. Follow travel-europe.europa.eu for the official date.

How much does ETIAS cost?

The EU has announced a fee of €20. Travelers under 18 and over 70 are exempt from the fee.

Do I need ETIAS for the UK?

No. The UK is not part of ETIAS. Visitors to the UK need a UK ETA, applied for on GOV.UK.

Does EES apply to Cyprus and Ireland?

No. EES applies in 29 countries: the EU countries except Cyprus and Ireland, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Will one eSIM work in all Schengen countries?

A Europe regional plan covers most Schengen countries with one install. Check the country list before you buy, especially for Switzerland and the UK.

The bottom line

EES is already here: expect fingerprints and a face scan at your first entry, and allow extra time at the border. ETIAS is still coming, expected in the last quarter of 2026, so do not pay anyone for it yet and follow the official EU website. For the trip itself, save your documents offline and install a Europe eSIM before you fly. Find plans for all of Europe.

Sources

Checked on 7 November 2026:

• European Union: EES and ETIAS official website
• European Commission: revised timeline for EES and ETIAS
• GOV.UK: apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
• ABTA: upcoming changes to travel to Europe