EU Approves New Launch Dates for EES and ETIAS Border Systems
The European Union has approved revised timelines for the Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), with EES launching in October 2025 and ETIAS in late 2026.
The EU Home Affairs Ministers approved a revised rollout schedule for the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) on 5 March. The EES is now expected to go live in October 2025, followed by ETIAS in late 2026.
Confirmed timelines after years of delays
Originally planned for 2022, the EES launch has faced multiple postponements, with rollouts planned for 2023 and 2024. The revised schedule now sets October 2025 as the live date, with a staggered six-month rollout period. The ETIAS, previously targeted for spring 2025, has also been rescheduled for late 2026.
What EES and ETIAS will change
The EES is a new digital border management system designed to digitise the entry and exit records of short-term visitors from non-EU countries across the external borders of 29 participating European nations. It will modernise Schengen border management, streamline border checks and help prevent identity fraud. Meanwhile, ETIAS is a travel authorisation required for visa-exempt travellers entering the Schengen Zone.
Also on 5 March, EU Home Affairs Ministers adopted the general approach for a phased EES rollout. Once approved by co-legislators, 29 European countries will introduce the EES gradually over six months. This timeline offers border authorities and transport operators additional time to adjust to the new procedures.
New digital check requirements from October 2025
Starting in October 2025, all non-EU travellers will be required to comply with the new EES system. The traditional passport stamp will be replaced by an electronic record, with fingerprints and facial images recorded digitally at every border crossing in the 29 participating countries.
En tant que chargée de relation client, mes missions sont la gestion et le suivi des demandes de visas. Je reste informée des actualités concernant les nouvelles formalités de voyage ainsi que les spécificités des nouveaux visas.