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New Entry/Exit System (EES) and visa waiver (ETIAS) for travellers in Europe Back to News
Friday 11th October | Posted by On Foot Staff
Entry/Exit System (EES)
UPDATE: On 10 October 2024 it was announced that introduction of the EES is to be delayed yet again, and will not come into force on the planned date of 10 November 2024. We will update this page with any further news as soon as it is available.
A new digital system for recording entry and exit by non-EU citizens is being developed by the European Union. This will replace the manual addition of passport stamps.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) will apply to anyone entering an EU or Schengen country who is not an EU or Schengen citizen/permanent resident, or who does not have a valid visa. The On Foot Holidays routes to which this currently applies are in Czechia (aka Czech Republic), France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.
On the first entry to these countries after implementation of the scheme, biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) will be collected at border control, plus registration of ‘travel document data’ and the time and place of entry. It is not currently possible to register in advance of travelling. It is also likely that more information will be required than currently when booking airline tickets into the relevant countries.
This is expected to cause delays at ports and airports. If travelling from the UK by train from London St Pancras or Folkestone, or by ferry from Dover, registration will happen at border control in the UK before boarding.
Please see https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en for details, and check carefully whether EES will apply to you. You may need to allow extra time for passing through border controls on your first visit after the scheme is implemented.
ETIAS visa waiver
A separate visa waiver system called ETIAS (similar to the USA’s ESTA system) will follow in 2025, on a date yet to be announced. This will be valid for three years (or to the end of your passport’s validity if less than three years), and a fee of 7 Euros will apply. It will need to be secured in advance of travelling via the ETIAS website or mobile app. It will apply to entry to the same countries as listed above for EES.
It is not yet possible to apply for an ETIAS, but see https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en for more details and to check whether you will need an ETIAS to travel.
Updated 11 October 2024
