ETIAS or EES: what is the difference?
EES records you at the border; ETIAS will authorise you before you leave. EES is already running. ETIAS is not. Most visa-exempt travellers will eventually deal with both, but only EES concerns them today.
ETIAS is not in operation yet and the EU has not announced a start date (checked on 9 November 2026). Nobody can apply or pay for ETIAS today.
Follow the ETIAS timeline →| ETIAS | EES | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Travel authorisation obtained online before departure | Digital record of entries and exits, replacing passport stamps |
| Status | Not in operation, no official start date | Running since 12 October 2025, fully since 10 April 2026 |
| Who | Visa-exempt nationals only | All non-EU short-stay travellers, with or without a visa |
| When | Before the trip, online | At the border, on arrival and departure |
| What you provide | Form: identity, passport, background questions | Passport scan, photo of the face, 4 fingerprints (except under 12) |
| Cost | €20 (free under 18 and over 70) | Free |
| Validity / retention | 3 years or until the passport expires | Records kept 3 years (5 if no exit recorded) |
| Countries | 30: Schengen area and Cyprus | 29: Schengen area (not Cyprus, not Ireland) |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 | Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 |
How they work together
When ETIAS is running, a visa-exempt traveller will apply online, receive the authorisation by email, and the carrier will check it before boarding. On arrival, the border guard will check it again and the EES will record the entry, with fingerprints and photo on the first crossing. On exit, the EES records the departure, and the count of days used out of the 90 allowed is updated automatically.
The EES also feeds ETIAS: a past overstay recorded by the EES can be taken into account when an ETIAS application is assessed.
Three common mix-ups
“I need to apply for EES before my trip.” No. There is no application for EES. Registration happens at the border.
“EES is the new name for ETIAS.” No. They are two different systems with different legal bases. EES started first because ETIAS depends on it.
“ETIAS will take my fingerprints.” No. The ETIAS form collects no biometric data. Fingerprints are taken by the EES at the border.
What to do today
Nothing for ETIAS. For EES, allow extra time at the border on your first trip after the system started, and keep track of your days if you travel often. More: EES guide and ETIAS start date.
Sources
- OfficialETIAS – official website — European Union
- OfficialEntry/Exit System (EES) – official website — European Union
- OfficialRegulation (EU) 2018/1240 establishing ETIAS — EUR-Lex
- OfficialRegulation (EU) 2017/2226 establishing the Entry/Exit System — EUR-Lex
- PressEurope’s Entry/Exit System: what travellers need to know before 10 April (6 Apr 2026) — Euronews
Change history
- — Page created.