The EU is introducing two new border management tools that will change how visitors travel to Europe: ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System. Both strengthen European security, but they operate in very different ways.
A valid ETIAS is required for many visa-free travellers, but it is not a guarantee of admission at the border. Entry still depends on travel document checks, border questions and compliance with the rules for short stays.
When ETIAS launches, you will not need to submit the application yourself. A trusted person or travel agent can do it on your behalf — but there are important safeguards to follow.
The EU's revised border-tech timetable made one point clear: ETIAS could not start on its own. Before travellers would need the new online authorisation, the Entry/Exit System had to be built and operating first.
When the Entry/Exit System began its phased launch in October 2025, travellers needed a clear practical summary rather than another abstract policy explanation. The article answered the main questions on who is covered, what checks are required, and why queues were expected during the early months.
A long-running uncertainty over Europe's next border systems narrowed in mid-2025 when the EU set a firm EES start date and confirmed a higher ETIAS fee. For UK travellers, the change meant more clarity on timing, but not a simpler border process.
Before the planned 2024 launch of the EU's Entry/Exit System, ABTA's message was clear: travellers needed to expect a new border routine, not just another headline. The biggest early change was the first-time registration process, which was expected to slow some crossings before the system settled in.
By March 2026, the key question was no longer whether EES would begin but how far the rollout had progressed and when ETIAS would follow. The practical picture was a staged border change with a later online authorisation still to come.
ABTA expanded its Europe travel guidance by publishing dedicated EES and ETIAS information for both the trade and the public. The aim was to help businesses answer questions early while official details were still developing.
The EU's Entry/Exit System started a phased rollout on 12 October 2025, introducing biometric checks at Schengen borders for non-EU nationals. Full implementation is expected by April 2026.