ETIAS and EES Launch Status
February 27, 2025 | by Nomadic
An official EU website clarifies the expected launch dates of the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
Latest Status of Entry/Exit System (EES):
- Launch date. An official EU website on the EES – an automated border check system designed to register non-EU nationals each time they enter or exit the external borders of the Schengen Area for short-term travel – currently states that the system ‘is due to start in 2025’ and clarifies that EU authorities will inform about the start of 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. The currently expected official start date for ETIAS – a pre-travel authorization system for visa-exempt nationals entering the Schengen Area (and Cyprus) – is mid-2025. However, EU authorities have also stated that ETIAS will commence ‘a few months’ after EES begins. This means that any delays in implementing 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.
This alert, for informational purposes only, was prepared by Fragomen and originally published here. If you have any questions, please contact us.