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ETIAS and EES: timing for UK and US travellers

One of the two systems is live and one is not. This page states only what the official EU site says, checked on 14 October 2026. Dates for ETIAS can move, so check the source before you book.

EES: in force since 10 April 2026

The Entry/Exit System registers non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay each time they cross the external border of the 29 European countries using it. UK and US passport holders are non-EU nationals. The European Commission says the system became fully operational on 10 April 2026, after a progressive start that ran until 9 April.

The EU defines a short stay as up to 90 days in any 180-day period, calculated as a single period for all the countries using the system. Passports are still stamped manually in Cyprus and Ireland.

What EES shows you

The EU provides an online tool, and equipment at some borders, that tells you whether your entry is allowed and how many days you may still stay. The official page warns that the remaining stay does not reflect any time in the Schengen area that began before 10 April 2026. If you made trips earlier than that, your own record is the only complete one.

ETIAS: not in operation yet

As of 14 October 2026 the official ETIAS site says ETIAS is not in operation and that no applications are being collected. It says the EU will announce the start date several months before launch.

The same site lists the United Kingdom and the United States among the countries whose nationals will need it, for 30 European countries (the EES countries plus Cyprus). It describes a short online application and a EUR 20 fee, with the authorisation checked before you board a plane, ferry or train. A news item dated 15 April 2026 says UK nationals will need it from the last quarter of this year, but no launch date had been announced as of 14 October 2026. The main page does not give a date, so until the EU announces one you cannot apply and should not pay anyone who says you can.

What does not change

ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation, not a longer stay. The official page describes travel with it as a stay of up to 90 days, and the 90/180 rule is unchanged. Neither system gives you more days; EES just makes the count automatic at the border.

What to do now

Keep your own day count so you know the answer before the border tells you. The free Staymark tracker counts your Schengen days and forecasts the last day you can stay on a planned trip. Check the official ETIAS site again before any trip booked for the last months of 2026 or after.

Questions

Do I need ETIAS now?

No. The official site says ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are collected. The EU says it will announce the start date several months ahead.

Is the EES running?

Yes. The Commission says it has been fully operational at all external border crossing points since 10 April 2026.

Will ETIAS give me more than 90 days?

No. It is an authorisation to travel for a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180.

Sources

Staymark counts days against published rules. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice; rules change, so check the official sources above before you travel.