Two new EU border systems, two different things, and neither is fully live yet. Here's what EES and ETIAS actually are, what the self-service kiosk process is like, what happens if you say no to a question, and how it differs for families, disabilities and special assistance.
EES (Entry/Exit System) replaces passport stamping with a digital record and biometric check (fingerprints and a facial photo) for non-EU visitors, including UK passport holders. It's being phased in from 12 October 2025, with full implementation from 9 April 2026, though some countries can still run contingency manual processing through busy periods into September 2026. There's no extra cost, it just happens at the border.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a separate, paid, in-advance travel authorisation, similar to the US ESTA. It's not linked to EES and it isn't live yet: the original late-2026 launch was dropped in July 2026, and a 2027 start is now considered most likely, with a firmer date expected after eu-LISA's September 2026 board meeting. It'll cost €20 for most adults when it does launch.
Don't confuse the two. EES is something that happens to you at the border with no action needed in advance. ETIAS is something you'll need to apply and pay for online before you travel, once it's actually live.
ETIAS is a short online form and background check for visa-exempt travellers, around 60 nationalities including the UK, US, Canada and Australia. It's not a visa, and it doesn't mean an embassy appointment or interview, just a form similar to the US ESTA or Canada's eTA.
The launch date has moved more than once. It was originally due in 2024, then pushed to late 2026, and in July 2026 the EU dropped that date too, confirming a 2026 launch is no longer realistic. A 2027 launch is now the most likely outcome, with a clearer timeline expected once eu-LISA (the agency running it) meets in September 2026. I'll keep this page updated as soon as an actual date is confirmed, there's no need to do anything about ETIAS until then.
| Cost | €20 for travellers aged 18 to 70, free for under 18s and over 70s |
| Who needs it | Around 60 visa-exempt nationalities, including UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders |
| How long it lasts | 3 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, covering unlimited trips in that time |
| How you apply | Online, once live: passport and personal details, a few background questions, your first destination, then payment |
| How long approval takes | Most applications are approved within minutes, but it can take up to 30 days if extra checks are needed |
Once ETIAS is live, apply well before you travel rather than at the airport, most approvals are instant but a small number take weeks if you're flagged for extra checks.
On your first trip into the Schengen area after EES fully applies to your crossing point, you'll register at a self-service kiosk in the arrivals area (or before you travel, at juxtaposed controls like Eurostar terminals or the Port of Dover). The kiosk scans your passport, then takes a facial photo and fingerprint scan. It takes around one to two minutes, and once it's done you cross via an e-gate or a manned booth as normal.
On later trips within 3 years, you won't need to register again in full, you'll just scan your passport and confirm either a fingerprint or a photo to match your existing record.
Alongside the biometric registration, a border officer may still ask the same questions they always have: your purpose of visit, how long you're staying, where you're staying, proof of funds for your trip, and your return ticket. This isn't new to EES, it's standard Schengen entry practice that now happens alongside the biometric step rather than instead of it.
Build extra time into your arrival, especially in the first year while everyone's still getting used to the kiosks. It's a bigger deal for busy airports and peak season than it is for a quiet midweek arrival.
Officially, you can decline to give your biometric data, but the EU is explicit that refusing it means you'll be denied entry. It isn't really an option if you actually want to get in, biometric registration is a mandatory condition of entry under EES for anyone it applies to.
The standard border questions work differently. There's no fixed penalty for any single answer, but an officer who isn't satisfied you meet the conditions to enter (enough money for your trip, a genuine return date, evidence you're not intending to work illegally, and so on) can pull you aside for further questioning, ask for more documentation on the spot, or ultimately refuse entry and send you back on the next available transport. A Schengen-eligible passport or a valid ETIAS, once it exists, gets you to the border, it doesn't guarantee an officer lets you through if something doesn't add up.
Keep it simple and have the basics ready: your accommodation address, a rough idea of your budget for the trip, and your return flight details. Vague or inconsistent answers are what tend to trigger a longer conversation, not the questions themselves.
If you're travelling with young children, book the longest realistic connection time you can and avoid the tightest changeovers, the extra minute or two per child at a staffed desk adds up fast for a bigger family.
There isn't yet a single, clearly published EU-wide process for every kind of disability at EES kiosks, so this is an area worth double-checking closer to your travel date. What's clear so far:
If you've booked assisted travel with me or directly with the airline, mention EES specifically when you confirm it, most assistance teams can route you through the manual desk alongside your existing support rather than the kiosk.
No. EES is something that happens automatically at the border on your first eligible crossing, there's no advance form or payment.
No, not as of when this page was last checked. The original late-2026 launch was dropped, a 2027 start now looks most likely, and there's nothing to apply for until it's actually live.
They're separate systems. EES is the biometric entry and exit record taken at the border. ETIAS is a paid, in-advance travel authorisation you'll apply for online, similar to the US ESTA. Once ETIAS is live, most UK travellers to the Schengen area will need both.
I keep an eye on the EES and ETIAS timelines so you don't have to, message me if you want the current picture for your specific dates and destination.