Timeline
The European Commission proposes ETIAS (November 2016).
Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 is adopted.
The planned date moves several times.
The EES (biometric register) starts on 12 October.
The EES is fully live from 10 April.
ETIAS still has no official date.
Latest changes
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| 2026 | The official ETIAS website no longer mentions the last quarter of 2026: ETIAS has no date and the EU will announce it months in advance. More |
| 08/04/2026 | The UK ETA fee rises from £16 to £20. More |
| 10/04/2026 | The EES is live at every external border of the 29 countries using it, and passport stamps disappear. More |
| 12/10/2025 | The EES starts its gradual rollout. What to expect |
| 2025 | The European Commission confirms ETIAS will cost €20. More |
| 01/01/2025 | Bulgaria and Romania fully join Schengen, land borders included. |
How we track ETIAS news
We only publish changes that appear in an official source: the EU's ETIAS and EES websites, the European Commission, the Official Journal of the EU or national governments. Press reports about "expected" dates are not treated as news until the EU confirms them.
When the EU announces the ETIAS start date, we will update this page, the start date tracker and the guides in all four languages the same day.
What to watch next
- The ETIAS start date, announced several months in advance.
- The transition and grace periods after launch, when travellers will be informed and some can still enter without ETIAS.
- Where the Travel to Europe app works, as more border crossing points adopt EES pre-registration.
- Changes to reference amounts (the money each country asks for), which the Commission updates when countries notify new figures.
Frequently asked questions
Has ETIAS been delayed again?
ETIAS has no official start date. The previous target of the last quarter of 2026 no longer appears on the official website. Current status.
Is the EES already in force?
Yes. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
Keep reading
Sources
- European Commission: official ETIAS website
- European Commission: EES FAQ (gradual rollout)
- GOV.UK: Home Office fees, 8 April 2026
- European Commission: ETIAS FAQ
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.