The European Union has confirmed dates for two major changes at its borders. The Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin in October 2025. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will follow a year later, expected in the final months of 2026.
Once ETIAS is active, travelers from 59 visa-exempt countries — including the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and many more — will need to apply for online approval before boarding a flight or crossing into Europe. This applies to short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because many other destinations already use similar systems. The U.S. has ESTA, Canada has eTA, and the UK recently launched ETA. Europe is following the same path.
The European Commission will announce the exact start date closer to launch. A grace period of at least 12 months will give travelers time to adjust.
For now, the usual rules still apply. But if you’re planning a European trip in 2026 or later, expect to add one more item to your pre-departure checklist.
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