ETIAS & EES live status
Regulator-sourced dashboard for the two EU border systems every non-EU traveller now encounters. Re-verified monthly and within 7 days of any material European Commission announcement.
Last verified · next review · machine-readable JSON · CC BY 4.0
EES — Entry/Exit System
Fully operationalBiometric entry/exit record at every external Schengen border. Runs at the airport on every entry and every exit. No pre-travel action; EES itself is free.
- Fully operational
- 2026-04-10
- Progressive rollout began
- 2025-10-12
- Biometric modalities
- fingerprint, facial-image
- Data retention
- 3 years post-last-exit
- Countries
- 29 Schengen
- Operated by
- eu-LISA on behalf of all Schengen states
ETIAS — Pre-travel authorisation
Pre-operationalOnline pre-screening for visa-exempt travellers before they board. Distinct from EES — ETIAS is the pre-travel permission slip; EES is the border record. ETIAS is the €20 charge, EES is free.
- Expected operational
- Last quarter of 2026
- Fee (adults 18–70)
- €20
- Previously legislated fee
- €7 (pre-2025-07-17)
- Fee-exempt ages
- Under 18, over 70
- Validity
- 3 years or passport expiry
- Countries
- 30 Schengen
- Operated by
- Frontex (European Border and Coast Guard Agency) and eu-LISA
Timeline
ETIAS fee raised to €20
Commission decision published — raises the originally legislated €7 fee to €20 per adult, effective when ETIAS becomes operational.
EES launch date set for 12 October 2025
Commission confirms progressive rollout start.
EES progressive rollout begins
First Schengen border crossings begin using EES; six-month transitional period with mixed stamping and digital registration.
EES fully operational
EES mandatory at every external Schengen border. Passport stamping for short-stay entries replaced with biometric EES records. Current status.
ETIAS operational (expected)
Online pre-authorisation becomes available. Commission-announced transitional period will follow during which ETIAS is recommended but not refused at boarding.
EES vs ETIAS — what is the difference?
| Feature | EES | ETIAS |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Biometric entry/exit record at the border | Pre-travel online authorisation |
| When | At the airport, on every entry/exit | Online, before you book or board |
| Cost | Free | €20 (under 18 / over 70 free) |
| Who | All non-EU short-stay travellers | Only visa-exempt nationals |
| Validity | 3 years between records | 3 years or passport expiry |
| Status (Apr 2026) | Fully operational 10 Apr 2026 | Expected Q4 2026 |
Sources
Every claim on this page traces to one of the following regulator URLs. If the Commission publishes a new date, this page is updated within 7 days.
- ETIAS will cost EUR 20 — EU Commission Migration and Home Affairs(European Commission)
- ETIAS policy page — EU Commission Migration and Home Affairs(European Commission)
- ETIAS — official EU traveller portal(European Commission (travel-europe.europa.eu))
- Entry/Exit System fully operational 10 April 2026(European Commission)
- Commission sets 12 October 2025 as EES progressive start(European Commission)
- EES — official EU traveller portal(European Commission (travel-europe.europa.eu))
- Entry/Exit System — EU Commission policy page(European Commission)
- Entry/Exit System fully deployed across the EU — eu-LISA(eu-LISA)
ETIAS full guide
Everything Americans need to know — fee, process, FAQs, scams.
EES full guide
What EES is, airport experience, EES vs ETIAS, myths debunked.
JSON API (CC BY 4.0)
Machine-readable live status. Attribute WhereNext with a link back.