Europe’s ambitious plan to modernize its borders through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and the Entry/Exit System (EES) has hit another snag. Originally slated for 2021, these digital initiatives—designed to bolster security and streamline migration control—have been postponed multiple times. The latest updates, confirmed in March 2025 by EU authorities and reported across various media outlets, push ETIAS’s mandatory rollout to April 2027, with EES starting in October 2025. Here’s what these delays mean, how the systems will work, and what travelers can expect in the coming years.
A Long Road to Implementation
The EU first approved ETIAS in 2018, envisioning a 2021 debut. Technical hurdles, coordination challenges among member states, and the need to integrate vast security databases have since stretched that timeline. The EES, a biometric tracking system, will now launch in October 2025, while ETIAS—a visa-waiver program for visa-exempt travelers—won’t fully take effect until 2027. This marks the fifth delay for ETIAS, reflecting the complexity of harmonizing border policies across the Schengen Area, a 30-country zone that includes most EU nations plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
According to the EU’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, the staggered rollout aims to ease the transition for border authorities and the travel industry. The EES will kick off with a “phased approach,” initially registering just 10% of non-EU travelers crossing Schengen borders, with full biometric functionality mandatory by April 2026. ETIAS follows a year later, launching in late 2026 (Q4) as an optional system for six months before becoming mandatory in April 2027. A final six-month grace period for first-time visitors extends leniency until October 2027.
What Are EES and ETIAS?
The EES and ETIAS are two sides of the EU’s “smart borders” coin. The Entry/Exit System replaces manual passport stamping with biometric data—fingerprints and photographs—logged at Schengen borders. It targets non-EU citizens, tracking entries and exits to curb overstays. Starting October 2025, travelers will face this process on their first post-launch Schengen border crossing. However, in the early weeks, a “safety valve” may be used to limit registrations to as few as one in ten to manage congestion.
ETIAS, meanwhile, is a pre-travel authorization system akin to the U.S.’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), or the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). It applies to citizens of 60 visa-exempt countries—including the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia—planning short stays (up to 90 days) in the Schengen Area. For a €7 fee (free for those under 18 or over 70), applicants submit an online form detailing their passport, occupation, education, criminal history, and travel plans. Automated checks against databases like Europol and Interpol determine approval, typically within minutes, though manual reviews could take up to 30 days. Once granted, ETIAS lasts three years or until the passport expires, allowing unlimited entries.
What are the distinctions between these two systems? EES logs your movements; ETIAS grants permission to make them. Together, they aim to enhance security by pre-screening travelers and monitoring compliance. Ultimately, the digitalized system should further enhance European security.
Why the Delays?
The EU cites technical and logistical challenges. Integrating ETIAS with databases across 30 countries, managed by agencies like eu-LISA and Frontex, is no small feat—data quality varies, and coordination isn’t seamless. The EES requires border infrastructure (airports, ports, land crossings) to adopt biometric tech, a process still underway. As mentioned, it’s already the fifth delay, but the EU insists this gradual approach ensures stability for travelers and authorities alike.
Critics, however, see deeper issues. Some studies highlight privacy risks under the new systems and question efficacy if databases aren’t comprehensive. The repeated delays also fuel skepticism about the EU’s readiness, potentially eroding trust in these systems before they even launch.
Who’s Affected and When?
The EES applies to all non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area, starting October 2025. Expect longer border waits initially as biometrics roll out. The ETIAS targets visa-exempt nationals from 60 countries, but not until late 2026. Even then, it’s optional until April 2027, with full enforcement by October 2027. EU citizens, documented residents, and visa-required travelers are exempt from ETIAS, though the latter still face traditional visa rules. Confusingly, Schengen and EU don’t fully overlap—Cyprus requires ETIAS but not EES, while Ireland skips both.
For now, travelers needn’t act. Applications aren’t open, and the EU warns against fraudulent websites offering fake ETIAS services. Once live, apply via the official EU site to avoid scams and extra fees.
What’s Next for Travelers?
These delays buy time for planning trips through 2026 without ETIAS worries. But by 2027, ETIAS will be unavoidable for visa-exempt visitors, and EES could mean border delays. The EU cautions that lacking ETIAS “could have serious consequences,” like entry denial, so compliance will be key.
Ultimately, ETIAS and EES reflect Europe’s push for tighter, tech-driven borders. Whether they deliver on security without snarling travel remains to be seen.