The short version
- The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational since April 10, 2026. There's no application and no fee.
- ETIAS, the pre-travel authorization, is not running yet. The EU removed its late-2026 target in July 2026.
- For now, U.S. citizens need only a valid passport for short Schengen trips, plus extra time at the border.
If someone on your team flew to Europe this year and came back talking about a long line at passport control, this is probably why. Europe has changed how it records visitors, and a second change has been delayed again. Here's what's actually required right now.
The Entry/Exit System is live
The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) began rolling out on October 12, 2025, and became fully operational at all external Schengen border crossings on April 10, 2026. It replaces passport stamps with a digital record.
On a traveler's first entry after the change, border officers take a facial photo and fingerprints. That registration is reused on later trips, so the first crossing is the slow one.
A few things to pass along to travelers:
- There's nothing to apply for and nothing to pay. Any website charging for "EES registration" is a scam.
- Travel reports from this summer described long waits at some major airports during peak periods. Build extra connection time into itineraries that clear Schengen immigration at a busy hub.
- The 90-days-in-any-180 rule for short stays hasn't changed. EES simply makes it easier for border officers to track.
ETIAS has slipped again
ETIAS is the online travel authorization visa-exempt visitors, including Americans, will eventually need before flying to Europe. It had been targeted for the last quarter of 2026. In mid-July 2026 that target was removed from the official EU site, following reporting that the EU agency building the system had concluded a 2026 launch wasn't feasible. Most observers now expect 2027.
The EU has said it will announce the start date several months ahead of time, and there will be a transition period before it's strictly enforced. When it does start, it's expected to be a one-time online application, valid for multiple trips over several years.
Until then: U.S. citizens don't need ETIAS, and anyone selling one is not legitimate.
What your travelers need today
- A valid U.S. passport. Schengen countries generally expect it to be valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure date, and to have been issued within the last ten years. Check both dates before booking.
- Extra time at the first Schengen entry point for EES registration.
- A separate authorization if the trip includes the United Kingdom, which isn't part of Schengen. See our post on the UK ETA.
International itineraries with multiple countries, mixed entry rules and tight meeting schedules are where a travel advisor earns their keep. Our international travel support covers the entry-requirement check for every traveler on every leg, and we'll keep watching for the ETIAS start date so you don't have to.
Have a question about how this affects your travelers? Ask us, or learn more about our Athens corporate travel agency.