The EU Entry/Exit System is live, while ETIAS is still a pre-travel authorisation expected after EES.
Updated 23 Jul 2026
Why this is watched
Launch timing, fee, exemptions and carrier guidance can change a very large block of visa-free corridors at once. Border-procedure changes, phased rollout and exemption handling affect corridor notes even where the underlying visa verdict does not change.
Review cadence
weekly until launch, then on every EC/eu-LISA change
weekly during rollout waves
Change triggers
Official launch-date change
Fee or exemption update
Rollout, grace-period or carrier-guidance change
Phased rollout change
Biometric or registration guidance change
Temporary-protection handling update
Timeline
2025-10-12: EES progressive rollout started The European Commission set 12 October 2025 as the start of progressive Entry/Exit System operations.
2026-04-10: EES became fully operational EES replaced manual passport stamping with digital entry/exit records for non-EU short-stay travellers across participating Schengen countries.
2026-Q4: ETIAS expected to start The official EU ETIAS site says ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026; travellers should not buy ETIAS from third-party sites before launch.