Europe · European Union · Updated 2026-07-20

EES and ETIAS: the new European border rules every traveller should know

Two new European border systems — the Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS travel authorisation — are changing how non-EU visitors cross the Schengen border. Here is what they mean.

Two new systems are reshaping how non-EU travellers enter Europe. They are separate things, and it is worth understanding both — especially if you hold a second passport and travel to the Schengen area. Both are documented on the official EU travel portal.

EES — the Entry/Exit System

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated border-registration system for non-EU nationals making short stays in the Schengen area. Instead of stamping passports, border officers record your entries and exits electronically, along with biometrics (facial image and fingerprints). Its phased rollout began in October 2025, moving toward full operation across external border crossings during 2026.

Practically, EES means your first crossing under the new system takes a little longer while your biometrics are captured, and your permitted short-stay days are tracked automatically — so overstays are easier to detect.

ETIAS — travel authorisation

ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors (for example holders of US, UK, Canadian, or Australian passports, and many Caribbean passports) who travel to around 30 European countries for short stays. It is not a visa — it is an online authorisation, linked to your passport, that you obtain before you travel. It carries a small fee and is valid for multiple trips over about three years. ETIAS is expected to start later, after EES is fully operational.

Why this matters for second-passport holders

If you hold or are acquiring a second passport, check how that passport is treated: some nationalities are visa-exempt and will simply need ETIAS, while others require a Schengen visa regardless. EES applies to everyone crossing the border, so biometric registration will happen either way. And because the EU is tightening the link between travel access and immigration integrity, the visa-free status of some passports — including certain investment-migration passports — could change over time.

What this means for travellers

Build in extra time at the border for your first EES crossing, obtain ETIAS before you travel once it launches, and confirm the current visa-free status of any passport you plan to use.

Launch dates and fees have shifted before and may change again. Confirm the current position on the official EU travel portal before travelling.