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EES, ETIAS, & E-Gates Explained

Henry
Sep 8
3 min read

How you cross the EU border is changing in the next 12 months. Whilst there is very little you need to do to prepare for this, it is helpful to understand these changes before they come into effect. This is EES, ETIAS & E-Gates explained.

Entry/Exit System (EES)

EES is being launched across the Schengen Area – most EU states, plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland – from 12 October 2025.

This is the digitisation of the border process; instead of having your passport stamped on entry and exit to a member state by a human border guard, instead you will approach a computer terminal.

This terminal will scan your passport, take your picture and fingerprints, and ask you a series of question. The exact questions will vary, but are based on standard border crossing questions such as “how long are you staying?” and “have you booked your return travel?”

You will no longer have your passport stamped. This digitisation is designed to make it easier to track the “90 in 180 day” rule – that you can only spend a maximum of 90 days of any 180 day period in the EU.

EES will be rolled out over a six month period from 12 October 2025. Due to this gradual roll out, you may find that border crossing procedures vary between border crossings, even in the same country. Fundamentally, there is nothing new or different to prepare for - this is simply the replacement of the human border guard with a computer.

Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

ETIAS is a pre-clearance system being rolled out across most of the EU and Schengen Area. It works in a similar way to the ESTA system in the USA and eTA system in Canada.

It is not yet certain when this will launch; according to EU legislation, it must come into force no more than six months after EES does. With the staggered launch of EES, ETIAS is therefore expected to launch six months after the conclusion of this roll out period, giving it an expected arrival date sometime in late 2026.

You will need to obtain an ETIAS pre-clearance before landing in your destination country. This involves answering a few questions and paying a small processing fee (currently 7EUR, although there is talk this could rise to 20EUR before launch).

Obtaining an ETIAS pre-clearance is normally instant, but can take up to 96hrs to process – you are advised plan for this well in advance. This is the one area where you advised to prepare in advance, and not fill out the ETIAS form whilst your plane is taxiing to its gate!

ETIAS is not currently in operation, and is expected to launch from October 2026.

Photo credit: (c) Daniel Schludi/Unsplash

E-Gates

In some EU countries, British passport holders, and those from a handful of other “third” countries, can use E-gates, alongside having your passport stamped. Currently, this is done at the discretion of the member state – regular travellers through Geneva will be familiar with the long ski queues at passport control whilst EU passport holders breeze through the E-gates.

As a result of the UK-EU trade deal announced back in the spring, it will now become mandatory for all Schengen and EU states to allow UK passport holders to use E-gates.

This will be implemented six months after the roll-out of EES, so at a similar time to ETIAS, i.e. late 2026.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (UK, ETA)

From 2024, visitors to the UK from a handful of “third countries” have been required to apply for the UK’s own Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), when visiting the UK. This does not apply to British and Irish citizens, or anyone who has a right to live, study and/or work in the UK (i.e. those with pre-settled status or visa holders).

These cost £16 and can be applied for at the UK government website, www.gov.uk/eta

Final Thoughts

It is important not to panic or stress when thinking about these changes. Many of them will be drip fed in over the coming months and even years, with plenty of time to adapt to them. News outlets and social media channels are also very alert to these changes, so information will be passed on in good time.