Europe's long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) is scheduled to begin for some UK travellers on 12 October 2025, with a phased rollout running until full operation on 10 April 2026. ETIAS is now expected to follow in late 2026, with its fee rising from €7 to €20.
The EU has set 12 October 2025 as the start of a phased rollout for the Entry/Exit System (EES), with full operation expected by 10 April 2026. ETIAS is due to follow in late 2026, and its fee is rising from €7 to €20.
The EU's ETIAS travel authorisation has been pushed back again and is now due in the last quarter of 2026, once the Entry/Exit System is fully running. A grace period means it will not be truly mandatory until 2027.
The EU is working towards an autumn 2025 launch for the Entry/Exit System (EES), but it will arrive in phases rather than all at once. Member States can start with a share of their border crossing points and scale up over six months, while ETIAS is not expected before late 2026.
From 8 January 2025, travellers from 48 more non-European countries need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation, bringing the total to 55 nationalities. The ETA costs £10 and is valid for two years of repeated short visits.
Europe's new biometric border system is finally on course for 2025. Here is what the EES is, who must use it, why it kept slipping and how its phased rollout will work.