ETIAS and EES in 2026: what visa-free travellers need

If you are a non-EU national travelling visa-free to Europe, two systems matter. The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational at all external Schengen border crossing points since 10 April 2026 and records your fingerprints and facial image. ETIAS, the €20 travel authorisation, is not yet in operation: as of 31 October 2026 no applications are accepted.

This guide explains what each system does, who is exempt, and why people who are relocating on a long-stay visa or residence permit are treated differently from short-stay visitors.

TL;DR

EES is live: since 10 April 2026 it records entries and exits of non-EU short-stay travellers at Schengen external borders.
EES stores travel-document data, fingerprints, a facial image and the dates you enter and leave.
ETIAS is not running yet. The EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch.
Once live, ETIAS will cost €20, be valid for up to three years and cover short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by an EES country are generally not registered in EES.

What the Entry/Exit System does

According to the European Commission's Migration and Home Affairs department, EES has been fully operational at all external Schengen border crossing points since 10 April 2026. By 27 July 2026 it had registered over 145 million entries and exits.

EES applies to non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay. At the border it records:

travel document data;
biometric data, meaning fingerprints and a facial image;
data on each entry and exit.

Nationals of EU countries and of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are not registered in EES.

For frequent visitors, the practical consequence is that the time you spend in the Schengen area is tracked digitally rather than read from passport stamps. If you travel often, keep your own record of days in and out so you can check you stay within the short-stay limit.

Who is exempt from EES

The Commission lists several categories that are not recorded in EES. They still show their passport or ID at the border, together with the relevant document, but give no fingerprints or facial scan:

nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See;
non-EU nationals holding a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by a country operating EES (permits and long-stay visas issued by Cyprus or Ireland are the exception: their holders are registered);
non-EU family members of an EU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian or Swiss citizen who hold a residence card or residence permit, whether or not they travel with that family member.

A family member without a residence card or residence permit is registered in EES. The full list of exemptions is on the official EES website.

What ETIAS will be

The official ETIAS website describes ETIAS as an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to 30 European countries. Key points:

Not yet in operation. No applications are collected. The EU will announce the start date several months in advance. A Commission news item from July 2025 expected operations in the last quarter of 2026, but as of 31 October 2026 no start date has been published on the official site.
Cost. €20, up from the €7 originally planned, according to the Commission announcement on the fee. Certain groups, including people under 18 or over 70, will not pay the fee.
Validity. Up to three years, or until the passport used in the application expires, whichever comes first. A new passport needs a new ETIAS.
Length of stay. Normally up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Time spent in Cyprus is counted separately.
Processing. Most applications are processed within minutes. Otherwise a decision arrives within four days, extendable by up to 14 days if more information is requested or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview.
No guaranteed entry. Border guards still check that you meet the entry conditions, and your passport should be valid for three months after your planned departure, with exceptions.

The legal basis is Regulation (EU) 2018/1240, and the fee change was adopted by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1411.

What this means if you are relocating

EES and ETIAS are designed for short stays. If you are moving to a Schengen country to work or live, the document that matters is usually a long-stay visa or residence permit, and holders of those documents issued by an EES country are generally not registered in EES.

The gap to watch is the period before your permit is issued. If you enter as a visa-free visitor while your application is pending, you are a short-stay traveller for border purposes, and the 90-in-180-day limit applies. Check the rules of the destination country before you plan that period.

Relocation also raises questions beyond the border: tax residence, social security and your employer's obligations. Our guide to cross-border employment risks covers the facts to record before you move. To review your own case, start with a Relomatrix Snapshot or see how Relomatrix works.

FAQ

Do I need ETIAS to travel to Europe now?

No. As of 31 October 2026 ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are collected. The EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch. Since there is no official application yet, a site asking you to pay for ETIAS today is not the official one.

Will EES take my fingerprints?

If you are a non-EU national entering the Schengen area for a short stay and you are not in an exempt category, yes. EES records fingerprints and a facial image together with your travel-document data and entry and exit dates.

I have a residence permit in an EU country. Am I registered in EES?

Generally not, if the permit or long-stay visa was issued by a country operating EES. Permits and long-stay visas issued by Cyprus or Ireland are the exception, and their holders are registered.

How much will ETIAS cost and how long will it last?

The fee will be €20, with exemptions for some groups such as people under 18 or over 70. A travel authorisation will be valid for up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

Sources

Accessed 31 October 2026.

General information, not legal advice. Check current entry requirements with the official EU websites or the authorities of the country you are travelling to.