The EU's long-delayed border overhaul is moving again, but with a major concession. To avoid severe queues, some travellers at busy checkpoints may initially be waved through without full biometric registration.
In August 2024, European Commissioner Ylva Johansson confirmed that the Entry/Exit System was on track for a November 2024 start, with ETIAS to follow six months later. This article reflects the reporting at that time — note that the EES eventually launched in October 2025 and the ETIAS fee was confirmed at €20, not the €7 cited here.
The EU’s long-planned Entry/Exit System is facing another delay, leaving many travellers unsure about when the new border checks will begin. Here is a clear overview of what the EES is, who it affects, and how it could change travel to the Schengen Area.
The EU's Entry/Exit System was pushed back once more in July 2024, shifting its expected October launch to at least November. The delay, driven partly by French concerns over capacity, continued a years-long pattern of postponements for the biometric border programme.
A travel company update can shape how people plan their trips, which is why inaccurate post-Brexit advice matters. In June 2024, TUI corrected key errors about ETIAS and Schengen rules after misleading information was highlighted.
ABTA said it was intensifying contact with EU and UK authorities as two major Europe travel changes moved nearer. The association's focus was practical: securing clearer answers on rollout, disruption risks and how travellers should be informed.
The EU’s long-planned Entry/Exit System is meant to modernize border control, but travel industry groups say uncertainty, weak public awareness and operational risks could still delay the rollout and disrupt tourism.
Good summer travel preparation starts well before departure. Travellers who review official advice, insurance cover, passport rules and airport requirements early are in a far stronger position to avoid disruption.
The EU common visa policy establishes harmonized entry conditions for the Schengen area while adapting to geopolitical changes through visa facilitation and suspension mechanisms. Discover how digitalisation and ETIAS integration are reshaping travel security.
In May 2024, the EU's Entry/Exit System was expected by October that year. Eurostar had invested EUR 10 million in new kiosks at St Pancras, while Getlink was spending EUR 70 million at Eurotunnel. This is how the Channel crossing was being reshaped.