Europe Border Update for September 2026: EES Is Live and ETIAS Is Still Coming

Updated: September 2, 2026

Two European border acronyms are creating a lot of confusion in the same travel season. Here is the clean September 7, 2026 version: EES is already operating. ETIAS is not.

EES is live now

The Entry/Exit System became fully operational across participating external Schengen border points on April 10, 2026. Covered non-EU short-stay travellers can have passport information, facial images, fingerprints and entry/exit data recorded digitally.

ETIAS is still not open

The official EU ETIAS website says no applications are currently being collected. The system is planned for the last quarter of 2026, with the specific date to be announced by the European Union.

The planned ETIAS fee is €20

• The official ETIAS site currently lists a €20 application fee.
• The authorization will be linked to the passport used to apply.
• It is expected to be valid for up to three years or until that passport expires.
• Travellers should use the official EU website rather than third-party sites claiming applications are already open.

What to do if you are travelling this month

Prepare for EES at the border, especially at your first Schengen entry point. Do not buy an ETIAS application from a third party. Before a late-2026 trip, recheck the official EU page because the ETIAS launch status may change after this article’s September 7 update.

Quick questions

Do I need ETIAS for a September 2026 trip?

Not as of September 7, because ETIAS is not yet operational.

Will I encounter EES?

If you are a covered non-EU short-stay traveller crossing a participating external Schengen border, yes, EES is already in operation.

The lovely part

The easiest way to remember it is almost cute: EES is at the border now. ETIAS is the thing you will do before the border later.

Keep exploring our Travel News guides for more current travel stuff.