European Union: European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and Entry/Exit System (EES) Launch Status

Latest Status of Entry/Exit System (EES):

• Launch date.  On March 5, 2025, the European Council announced a possible start date of October 2025 for the progressive rollout of the EES. This timeline is not yet official as the European Parliament must now review and approve this approach. The official EU website on the EES continues to state that the system ‘is due to start October 2025’ and clarifies that EU authorities will inform about the start of the EES ‘several months prior’ to its launch.
• Progressive rollout. In late 2024, EU authorities officially announced a progressive introduction for the EES over a 180-day period. Initially, only a small percentage of border crossings will need to be registered via EES. This will increase over time before eventually reaching 100% at the end of the 180-day introduction period. Additionally, requirements to obtain biometric data at border crossings will be progressively introduced over this same period. The commencement date for this progressive introduction remains unclear.

Latest Status of European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS):

• Launch date. On March 5, 2025, the European Council announced that the ETIAS is likely to be launched in the ‘last quarter of 2026’. This timeline is not yet official as the European Parliament must now review and approve this approach. Previously, the system was scheduled for a 2025 commencement. In any event, EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will commence ‘a few months’ after the EES begins. This means that any delays in implementing the EES are likely to affect the ETIAS schedule.
• Transitional period/grace period. EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will be subject to a ‘transitional period’ and a subsequent ‘grace period’ as follows:
  • During the transitional period – the first six months after ETIAS commences – any traveller will be able to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements.
  • During the grace period – the six months after the ‘transitional period – all first-time arrivals to Europe since the end of the ‘transitional period’ will be allowed to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements. All other travellers will need to have an ETIAS travel authorization to enter.