Remember three lines: ETIAS applications are not open. EES is already live. EES normally requires no advance application.
ETIAS: no application is possible yet
The EU currently says ETIAS will start in the last quarter of 2026, with the exact date to be announced several months in advance Fact. No action is required from travelers now, and the official system is not accepting applications Fact. When it opens, the direct application fee will be €20 and the official site will be on the europa.eu domain.
Frontex identified more than 100 unofficial ETIAS websites Fact. Its warning is nuanced: some are legitimate information or commercial-intermediary businesses, while others may be untrustworthy. The practical red flag today is a site claiming it can already lodge your application, secure priority handling or guarantee approval. The official system cannot receive that application yet. Do not send payment, passport details or card information.
EES: a border record, not a travel authorization
EES began a phased rollout on 12 October 2025 and became fully operational at the external borders of 29 participating European countries on 10 April 2026 Fact. It is not ETIAS and it does not grant travel permission. It electronically records travel-document data, a facial image, fingerprints and the date and place of entry or exit. It also replaces routine passport stamping at those borders.
On a first EES crossing, border officers or available self-service equipment create your digital file. On later crossings, the stored photo and fingerprints are generally verified, which involves fewer enrollment steps Fact. Border officers can still repeat collection when necessary.
There is one limited form of advance preparation
There is no general EES application, approval or fee. However, the official Travel to Europe app can pre-register passport data, a facial image and, where supported, an entry questionnaire within 72 hours of travel Fact. As checked on 3 September 2026, Sweden supports passport data, facial image and the questionnaire, while Portugal supports the questionnaire. Use is optional and does not replace border control.
Traveling with children
Children under 12 are exempt from giving fingerprints, but they are not wholly exempt from EES Fact. Their travel-document data and facial image can still be recorded. A parent should therefore expect a border process for the child even when no fingerprints are taken.
The practical issue is time
The earlier six-month rollout flexibility ended on 9 April 2026, not in September; full operation began the next day Fact. There is no reliable Europe-wide percentage for how much longer every airport will take. Queue length varies by border, staffing, equipment and whether it is a traveler's first enrollment. The defensible advice is simple: allow more time at the first external Schengen border, especially when a short connection depends on clearing immigration.
Official sources
EU ETIAS — current status, timing and €20 fee ›
EU EES — what happens during border checks ›