EES is fully operational. ETIAS is not accepting applications yet. The next confirmed milestone is an ETIAS start in the last quarter of 2026, but the European Union has not published the exact launch date.
This page separates confirmed changes from scheduled ones. It was checked against European Union sources on July 29, 2026.
Current status in one minute
- The Entry/Exit System started a progressive rollout on October 12, 2025 and became fully operational on April 10, 2026. The European Commission says it now operates at the external border crossing points of the 29 European countries using the system. European Commission EES overview, retrieved July 29, 2026.
- EES registers short-stay non-EU travellers at external borders. Its record includes travel-document data, biometric data, and the date and place of entry or exit. It also records refusals of entry. European Commission EES overview, retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ETIAS is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026. The Commission says the exact date will be announced later. European Commission EES and ETIAS comparison, retrieved July 29, 2026.
- The official ETIAS site says ETIAS is not operating and is not collecting applications. Official ETIAS status page, retrieved July 29, 2026.
If a website offers to submit a live ETIAS application today, that offer conflicts with the official status page checked on July 29, 2026.
Dated EES and ETIAS change log
October 12, 2025: EES progressive operations began
The European Commission says 29 European countries began introducing EES at their external borders on October 12, 2025. Deployment was phased over six months, so a traveller could encounter different procedures at different crossing points during that period. European Commission rollout notice, retrieved July 29, 2026.
For a travel record, this means passport stamps and digital encounters could overlap during the rollout. Keep both where you have them. Do not delete a trip because the passport and the later EES record use different forms of evidence.
April 10, 2026: EES became fully operational
The Commission states that EES became fully operational on April 10, 2026. From that date it replaced passport stamping for travellers in scope and enabled automatic identification of overstayers. European Commission EES overview, retrieved July 29, 2026.
EES does not make your private record unnecessary. A border database and a traveller's evidence answer different questions. Keep local arrival dates, departure dates, the passport used, the border crossed, and any correction or refusal documentation.
April 28, 2026: the Commission restated the ETIAS sequence
The Commission confirmed that EES was operational and ETIAS was still scheduled for the last quarter of 2026. It also said the exact ETIAS start date would be communicated later. European Commission comparison, retrieved July 29, 2026.
That wording matters. "Last quarter of 2026" is a schedule, not an application opening date. Do not invent a day in October, November, or December until the official site publishes one.
July 29, 2026: no ETIAS applications are being collected
On the retrieval date for this guide, the official ETIAS site still said the system was not in operation and no applications were being collected. It said the European Union would publish the specific start date several months before launch. Official ETIAS status page, retrieved July 29, 2026.
This is the status to check before paying anyone or changing a travel checklist.
What will change when ETIAS starts
ETIAS will be a travel-authorisation requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to participating European countries for short stays. It will be linked to the passport used for the application. The official site says an authorisation will normally be valid for up to three years or until that passport expires, whichever comes first. Official ETIAS explanation, retrieved July 29, 2026.
ETIAS will not create a new Schengen day allowance. The official site says eligible short stays remain normally limited to 90 days in any 180-day period, and a valid authorisation does not guarantee entry. Official ETIAS explanation, retrieved July 29, 2026.
The official timeline describes at least six months of transition followed by at least six months of grace arrangements. During transition, travellers should apply but a missing authorisation alone will not cause refusal if the other entry conditions are met. During grace, the exception is narrower and applies to a first entry after transition, subject to the other conditions. Official ETIAS timeline, retrieved July 29, 2026.
Do not calculate those periods from the last-quarter estimate. They begin from the actual ETIAS operational date, which was not published when this guide was checked.
What frequent travellers should record now
Keep these fields for every external Schengen crossing:
- Local entry or exit date.
- Country and border point.
- Passport used.
- Whether biometrics were enrolled or verified.
- Any stamp, receipt, carrier message, refusal record, or correction.
- The trip dates you use in your own 90-in-180 calculation.
For a future ETIAS application, preserve the application number and the exact passport details submitted. The official ETIAS page warns that a passport mismatch can prevent boarding or entry. Official ETIAS explanation, retrieved July 29, 2026.
Use the Schengen 90-in-180 calculator for the rolling day count, and keep a separate alert for the official ETIAS launch announcement. One tool should not pretend that those are the same event.
What this monitor will update next
The next material update is one of the following:
- the European Commission publishes the exact ETIAS start date;
- the official application site begins accepting applications;
- transition or grace dates are formally fixed from the operational date;
- the countries, exemptions, price, or passport requirements change.
The visible updated date on this page should move only after one of those facts changes or a source correction materially changes the guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Is EES operating at every Schengen external border now?
The European Commission says EES has been fully operational since April 10, 2026 across the external border crossing points of the 29 countries using it. European Commission EES overview, retrieved July 29, 2026.
Can I apply for ETIAS now?
No. The official ETIAS site said no applications were being collected when this guide was checked on July 29, 2026. Official ETIAS status page, retrieved July 29, 2026.
Does ETIAS reset my Schengen 90-in-180 count?
No. The official ETIAS material describes the same short-stay limit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. An authorisation permits travel to the border but does not create more days. Official ETIAS explanation, retrieved July 29, 2026.
Should I rely only on EES for my travel history?
Keep your own record. EES is an official border system, but you still need a reviewable chronology for planning, correcting data, explaining passport use, and discussing your case with an adviser.
Jetseen is a recordkeeping and calculation tool, not legal, tax, or immigration advice.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Tax residency rules change frequently. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation.