ETIAS news and updates
What is actually happening with ETIAS, the EU travel authorisation: the launch timeline, the fee, the border systems behind it and the scams to avoid. Plain English, checked against official EU sources.
- Borders4 min read
Cyprus Schengen accession vote: what it means for travellers
The European Commission confirmed Cyprus's Schengen readiness in July 2026. The EU Council is expected to consider the accession this month. One complication stands out: how the island's divided Green Line border fits into a Schengen external frontier.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES biometric flexibility ends: what changed on 7 September
The EES mechanism letting Schengen airports suspend biometric registration expired on 7 September 2026. The Commission gave no extension. Most Schengen airports now run full fingerprint and facial checks with no pause option, but Channel crossings remain a special case.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Italy-Spain border checks extended into September 2026
Both Italy and Spain have extended their reciprocal Schengen border controls. Italy's targeted checks on non-EU arrivals from Spain run until 15 September, while Spain's broader checks on all passengers from Italy continue until 22 September.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
EU visa strategy 2026: what EES means for visa-free access
The EU published its first Visa Policy Strategy in January 2026, setting out an evidence-based framework for which countries keep visa-free Schengen access. With EES now logging every crossing automatically, that framework has real data behind it for the first time.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Poland extends Schengen border checks until April 2027
Poland's Interior Ministry has extended passport checks at its borders with Germany and Lithuania until 2 April 2027, covering 52 road, rail and river crossings. The announcement came 2 September, days before the current controls were due to expire.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Austria's Schengen border checkpoints end on 15 September
Austria's fixed border checkpoints at its internal Schengen frontiers with Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia expire on 15 September 2026. Fixed booths are replaced by mobile patrols operating up to 30km inside Austrian territory.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
France keeps Schengen checks until 31 October 2026
France has passport checks at its borders with Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain and Italy until 31 October 2026. The checks are document-only, with no biometrics and no impact on your 90-day allowance, but the deadline falls during half-term.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Germany confirms Schengen checks until March 2027
Germany formally notified the European Commission in August that passport checks at all nine land borders run from 16 September 2026 to 15 March 2027. Courts have ruled the controls breach EU law. Germany is extending anyway.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Five months of EES: mistakes travellers are still making
EES has been fully operational since April 2026. The errors that keep catching travellers out are not technical failures. They are misunderstandings about what the system records, how the 90-day clock runs, and where ETIAS fits in.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Do UK Youth Experience Scheme participants need ETIAS?
The UK and EU are negotiating a Youth Experience Scheme for 18 to 30 year olds. Participants would hold a long-stay permit, not a short-stay visa. EU law exempts long-stay permit holders from ETIAS. Here is what that means in practice, and what remains unresolved.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES September deadline: signals of a last-minute extension
EU Transport Commissioner Tzitzikostas has privately told aviation groups that EES biometric flexibility will be extended past 6 September. No formal decision has been published. Here is what the signals mean, why a formal decision is harder than it sounds, and what September travellers should plan for.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Can the EU suspend your visa-free access to Europe?
The EU updated its rules for suspending visa-free Schengen access in November 2025. The trigger threshold dropped from 50 per cent to 30 per cent, the grounds widened, and maximum suspension duration extended to 36 months. For US, UK and Australian travellers the change is largely academic. Here is what it means and who it actually affects.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Schengen stay extension: when 90 days can be extended
EU law allows authorised extensions beyond the 90-day Schengen limit for medical emergencies, force majeure and serious humanitarian reasons. Since EES went live, those extensions are recorded formally in your digital border file.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Europe in winter 2026: what EES means for December trips
EES biometric checks are fully mandatory at Schengen borders from 7 September, with no pause option remaining. December travel is much quieter than summer, queues will be shorter, and ETIAS is not required. Here is what winter trips actually look like.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Cyprus Schengen vote: what changes for your 90-day count
The EU Commission has formally recommended Cyprus for Schengen. A vote among member states is expected in December 2026. Here is what changes for your 90-day allowance and EES enrolment, and what stays the same.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Do you need ETIAS for a Schengen layover?
Airside transit at a Schengen airport does not require ETIAS. A connection that takes you through passport control into the Schengen area does. The rule, explained with practical examples for common long-haul routings.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES for road travellers: land border crossings in 2026
EES applies at every Schengen external land border, not just airports. Seven-kilometre queues and eight-hour waits at the Croatia-Serbia crossing on 1 August showed what full biometric enrolment means at a staffed desk under peak load. Here is how the process works by road.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
One-way ticket to Schengen: what border officers can ask
You are not legally required to show a return ticket to enter Schengen, but the Schengen Borders Code requires proof of means to return. EES, fully operational since April 2026, makes overstays far more detectable without changing the rules at the desk. Here is what to carry and what to expect.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES fingerprint exemption: what if you can't be scanned?
Travellers who cannot provide fingerprints due to a physical condition are not refused entry at Schengen borders under EES. The regulation provides for this. Here is what the process looks like, what gets recorded, and how to handle it at the desk.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES and biometric passports: does your passport type matter?
Munich Airport has deployed 119 EES self-service kiosks since the system went live in April. Whether you can use them depends on whether your passport has a chip. Here is what the difference means in practice for first-time crossings and return trips.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
EU challenges nine countries over Schengen checks
The European Commission formally challenged nine Schengen countries on 2 June 2026, arguing that EES makes their internal passport controls disproportionate. Most countries are not complying, and Germany has since extended its checks to March 2027.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Passport stolen in Schengen: what it means for EES
EES entry records are tied to the passport number used at the border. If your passport is stolen mid-trip, exiting on an emergency document creates a mismatch the system does not resolve automatically. Here is what to do and why a staffed border desk is essential.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES queues: data shows wait times doubled in 2026
Average border wait times at Frankfurt and Amsterdam roughly doubled in July 2026 compared with the same month in 2025, according to data published this month. With August the busiest point of the year and the biometric pause mechanism expiring on 6 September, here is what the figures mean for late-summer travel.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES September deadline: no extension announced yet
The window letting Schengen airports pause EES biometric checks during peak congestion expires on 6 September. As of mid-August, the Commission has not formally extended it. Here is what each outcome means for autumn travel.
Read → - Launch timeline4 min read
ETIAS: EU removes launch target, no date confirmed
The EU's official ETIAS portal updated its guidance in August 2026, dropping any reference to a launch window. The September eu-LISA board meeting is the next milestone for a revised date. Here is what the current position means for autumn and winter travel plans.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES when you leave: the Schengen departure check explained
EES registers your departure as well as your arrival. The exit check is quick, but your 90-day count runs until EES logs you out, and a crossing where your exit goes unrecorded can create a false overstay flag on your next Schengen entry.
Read → - Borders4 min read
ETIAS and EES: what the combined border check looks like
When ETIAS launches, visa-exempt travellers will face two separate EU requirements: an online ETIAS authorisation before they fly, and an EES biometric registration at the Schengen border. Both checks happen, and this is how they fit together.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES at Greek island airports: what to expect in August
Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Corfu face the same EES biometric registration as any other Schengen entry point, but with smaller terminals and fewer kiosks. The UK exemption Greece briefly offered was withdrawn on 31 May. Here is what the process involves and why first-time registrations take longer at island airports.
Read → - Borders3 min read
Spain checks arrivals from Italy until 7 September 2026
Spain introduced reciprocal border controls on air and sea arrivals from Italy at midnight on 8 August 2026, running until 7 September. Combined with Italy's own checks going the other way, non-EU travellers crossing between the two countries now face document verification on both legs.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES queues: 41 million trips and $45bn at risk, WTTC warns
The World Travel and Tourism Council surveyed 2,512 travellers from the UK, US, Canada and Australia and found that regular three-hour EES queues could deter a third of potential visitors. At that rate, up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in spending would be at risk.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Norway and Sweden: ferry border checks until November
Norway and Sweden have reintroduced internal Schengen passport checks until 11 November 2026. Norway focuses on ferry ports; Sweden covers all crossings. Here is what the controls involve and what they mean for your EES record and 90-day Schengen count.
Read → - Application process4 min read
Does ETIAS require travel insurance? What the rules say
ETIAS does not require travel insurance. The application form is set by EU Regulation 2018/1240 and asks about identity, passport and security history, not medical coverage. Here is where the confusion comes from and what travellers actually need.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Ceuta crisis: EU backs Spain and rejects Schengen suspension
EU interior ministers met on 4 August and rejected calls to suspend Spain from Schengen. The zone remains intact, but France has stepped up checks at the Pyrenees, Italy runs targeted controls on routes to Spain, and Germany is extending its land-border checks. Here is what travellers need to know.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Germany extends land border checks beyond 15 September
Germany checks passports at all nine of its land borders until 15 September 2026. Interior Minister Dobrindt has confirmed the controls will run beyond that date, pointing to the Ceuta migrant crisis. Here is what the checks involve and what cross-border travellers should expect.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Travelling on a new passport? EES registers you again
If you renewed your passport after October 2025, your first Schengen crossing on the new document means full EES biometric enrolment at the border desk. Here is what the process involves, why your 90-day allowance is not reset, and what your old EES record still shows.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Italy reinstates Schengen checks with Spain for August
Italy reintroduced border controls at air and sea crossings with Spain on 31 July 2026, triggered by the Ceuta migrant crisis. Non-EU travellers on routes between the two countries should expect targeted document checks throughout August.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES confused twins at Romania's border. What went wrong.
A British woman was stopped at Cluj-Napoca airport after EES linked her face to her twin sister's unregistered exit from Amsterdam. Romanian Border Police confirmed officers had not checked fingerprints, which would have resolved the case instantly.
Read → - Application process4 min read
Can you change your travel plans after ETIAS is approved?
ETIAS is not a booking. Once approved, the authorisation travels with your passport for up to three years, not with a specific itinerary. Changing your dates, first entry point or destinations does not require a new application.
Read → - Application process4 min read
Applying for ETIAS on someone else's behalf
EU Regulation 2018/1240 explicitly allows a representative to submit an ETIAS application for another person. Here is how it works, what a Declaration of Representation requires, and the email address rule that often catches families out.
Read → - Borders5 min read
EES records: check and correct your border data
Under EU law, you have the right to see what EES holds about you, request corrections and, in some cases, ask for data to be deleted. After a summer of biometric pauses and partial operations, knowing how to exercise those rights matters.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES exemptions: who does not need Schengen biometric checks
Most non-EU visitors are registered in EES at the Schengen border, but several groups sit entirely outside the system. The European Commission clarified the full exemption list on 27 July 2026.
Read → - Application process4 min read
ETIAS processing times: how far in advance to apply
Most ETIAS applications will be decided automatically in minutes. EU law sets a 96-hour maximum for standard cases and allows up to several additional weeks for those needing human review. Here is what those timelines mean for when to apply before a trip.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Romania and Bulgaria joined Schengen: EES and ETIAS
Romania and Bulgaria completed their Schengen accession in 2024 and 2025. EES biometric checks now apply at every crossing, days there count toward the 90-day Schengen total, and ETIAS will be required for both countries when the portal opens.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Cyprus, EES and ETIAS: rules most travellers misread
Cyprus is an EU member but not part of the Schengen area. EES does not operate at Larnaca or Paphos airports, days there do not count toward your 90-day Schengen total, and ETIAS will still be required when it launches.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Second homes in Schengen: how EES enforces the 90-day limit
Since the Entry/Exit System went fully operational in April 2026, every Schengen border crossing is logged automatically against your passport. For British, American and other non-EU nationals with properties in France, Spain or Portugal, the 90-day rule is now enforced precisely at every border desk.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES queues at Spain’s holiday airports this summer
Spain has not activated the emergency biometric suspension that Italy and Portugal use when queues build. That means full EES enrolment continues at Tenerife, Palma, Alicante and Malaga this peak season. Here is what first-time Schengen arrivals should expect.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
ETIAS for Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City
None of these four states are part of ETIAS, and no separate authorisation is needed for the micro-state itself. But every route in passes through Schengen territory, so your ETIAS check still applies. Here is how each one works in practice.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES border queues in autumn 2026: an honest forecast
Summer has been EES's hardest period. This autumn, two things change: passenger volumes fall and more travellers arrive already enrolled. Here is what that means for queue times from September onwards, and what first-time visitors should still allow for.
Read → - Borders4 min read
UK and Europe in one trip: ETA, EES and ETIAS
Britain and the Schengen area have entirely separate entry systems. A combined UK-and-Europe trip involves a UK ETA for Britain and EES biometric registration at every Schengen crossing. Days in the UK do not count toward your 90-day Schengen allowance.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Dover and Eurotunnel EES: cars not fingerprinted this summer
Both Getlink and the Port of Dover confirmed in July 2026 that full EES biometric registration has been deferred for car passengers at Channel crossings. Border officers still create an EES entry record using your passport, but fingerprints and facial scans are not being collected yet.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Gibraltar and EES: what changed on 15 July 2026
A treaty signed between the UK and EU on 14 July brought Gibraltar into the Schengen zone for border purposes. EES biometric checks now operate at Gibraltar Airport and the Port of Gibraltar, and ETIAS will apply there when it launches.
Read → - Launch timeline4 min read
eu-LISA: when the new ETIAS launch date will be set
eu-LISA, the EU agency that builds and operates ETIAS, concluded at its June board meeting that a Q4 2026 launch is no longer achievable. The September board meeting is the next milestone for a revised date, and here is what that process looks like.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES September deadline: nine countries seek extension
Nine Schengen countries including France, Germany and Italy wrote jointly to the European Commission on 10 July asking that emergency EES biometric flexibility measures be kept alive past their 6 September expiry. The Commission has not yet formally agreed.
Read → - Application process4 min read
ETIAS refused: your right to appeal explained
When ETIAS launches, a share of applications will be refused. EU Regulation 2018/1240 sets out your right to appeal, the grounds on which refusal happens, and whether you can reapply. Here is how the process works.
Read → - Borders3 min read
EES and children: the under-12 fingerprint rule explained
Children under 12 do not give fingerprints at the Schengen border under EES, but they still have a facial image taken and their passport data recorded. Here is how the age rules work in practice for families travelling this summer.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES queues summer 2026: impact on trips smaller than feared
A late-June YouGov survey found that despite months of headlines about EES chaos, most British travellers who have already crossed a Schengen border this summer say the system had no meaningful impact on their trip. What the data shows, and why experience varies so much by airport.
Read → - Application process4 min read
ETIAS has no fingerprint scan. What the application asks
ETIAS is an online form you complete at home, not a biometric scan at the border. No fingerprints, no face scan, no appointment. Here is what the application form actually collects, who can see that data, and what rights you have over it.
Read → - Application process4 min read
ETIAS and a previous visa refusal: what to declare
A past visa refusal from any country does not automatically block an ETIAS application. It does trigger manual review by the EU member state you list as your destination. Here is what the form asks, how the assessment works and what to do about it.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES queue: your rights if you miss a flight or connection
Five-hour EES queues at Schengen airports are causing missed connections this summer. EU passenger-rights law EC 261 almost certainly does not cover delays caused by border procedures. Here is what does apply, and how to protect yourself.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES at UK-Europe ferry crossings: what to expect
EES biometric registration now applies to every ferry crossing from the UK into the Schengen area. On Dover routes it happens at Dover before you board. On Portsmouth, Harwich and Newcastle routes it happens when you arrive at the European port.
Read → - Application process4 min read
What ETIAS will ask about your criminal history
The ETIAS application will ask about a defined list of serious offences set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/1240. Most common convictions, including drink-driving, minor drug possession and petty theft, are not in scope.
Read → - Borders5 min read
EU rules out EES suspension as summer queues worsen
The European Commission told airlines on 7 July that a bloc-wide pause of EES biometric checks is neither possible nor needed. Officials cited the risk of false overstay records if the system runs unevenly across borders. The only relief still available, individual country suspensions of up to six hours, expires in September.
Read → - Borders4 min read
44,000 refused EU entry by EES: the most common reasons
The European Commission told Politico that EES has refused entry to 43,728 people since its October 2025 launch. The biggest cause was travellers who could not justify the purpose of their visit. Here is the full breakdown and what to carry to avoid being turned away.
Read → - Launch timeline4 min read
ETIAS launch may slip to 2027, reports suggest
The Financial Times reported on 7 July that a Q4 2026 ETIAS launch is considered unachievable by people briefed on the matter. No official EU statement has followed yet, but a revised timeline is expected from eu-LISA's September board meeting.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EU Schengen report 2026: EES statistics and what they mean
The EU's annual State of Schengen report, published in May 2026, is the first to include substantial EES data: over 66 million registrations in the system's first six months, a 40% drop in irregular crossings in early 2026, and France formally flagged for prolonged internal border controls.
Read → - Application process4 min read
Living in Ireland? ETIAS still applies when you visit Europe
An Irish residence permit does not exempt you from ETIAS when visiting Schengen countries. Neither does a Cyprus permit. Both countries are EU members that sit outside Schengen, and their permits carry no ETIAS exemption for travel elsewhere in Europe.
Read → - Borders4 min read
How to check your remaining Schengen days with EES
Passports are no longer stamped at Schengen borders. The official EU portal lets you check your remaining days using your passport number and EES records. One gap to know about: trips before 10 April 2026 are not in the system and need a manual calculation.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Airlines call for EES flexibility as summer queues intensify
Europe's aviation sector has formally called on the EU Commission to allow greater flexibility in EES biometric checks at Schengen airports this summer. Queues are running to several hours at major hubs and the Commission has not announced a response.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES at Schengen connections: when your layover is an entry
If your itinerary routes you through Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt to another Schengen country, EES registers your arrival at the hub airport, not your final destination. Here is what that means for your 90-day clock, your connection time and ETIAS.
Read → - Application process4 min read
ETIAS for business trips to Europe: the key rules
Business travellers from visa-exempt countries need ETIAS from Q4 2026, just like tourists. With the launch expected during Europe's busiest conference season, here is what frequent visitors and travel teams need to know.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES full biometric checks return after 7 September
The summer window for pausing EES biometric registration at Schengen borders closes on 7 September 2026. From late September, every non-EU traveller faces full fingerprint and facial-image checks with no queue-based suspension allowed.
Read → - Application process4 min read
ETIAS and dual nationality: which passport to use
If you hold more than one passport, ETIAS will be linked to whichever one you travel on. EU, EEA and Swiss passport holders are exempt entirely. With EES already recording your crossings and ETIAS expected in Q4 2026, now is the right time to settle this question.
Read → - Application process4 min read
Getting ready for ETIAS: what to do before it opens
ETIAS applications are not open yet, but there are a few sensible things to check now so the authorisation does not catch you off guard. Passport validity, fee exemptions, your Schengen day count and where to apply when the portal goes live.
Read → - Fees4 min read
Do children need ETIAS? Yes, but it's free for under-18s
Children from visa-exempt countries need their own ETIAS authorisation to enter Europe, with no lower age limit. The application is free for anyone under 18, but a parent or guardian must complete it on the child's behalf.
Read → - Fees3 min read
ETIAS for seniors: the fee is waived, not the requirement
Travellers aged 70 and over pay nothing for ETIAS, but the fee exemption does not mean they skip the application. The requirement to hold a valid authorisation before any Schengen trip applies to everyone.
Read → - Schengen rules3 min read
ETIAS valid for 3 years: what it means for your Schengen trips
An ETIAS authorisation lasts three years from the day it is issued, but it does not change the Schengen 90-day stay limit. Two separate timers run alongside each other.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES on Eurostar: why border control happens before you board
For Eurostar and Le Shuttle passengers, EES biometric registration happens at the juxtaposed controls in London or Folkestone before departure, not on arrival in France or Belgium. Here is what to expect at St Pancras and the Eurotunnel terminal.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES second crossing: what to expect on your return to Europe
If you crossed a Schengen border after October 2025, EES already has your biometrics on file. Returning is faster than first enrolment, but a new passport means starting over. Here is what actually changes at border control the second time round.
Read → - Borders5 min read
Frontex: EES border queues could last one to two years
Uku Särekanno, Frontex deputy executive director, said in June 2026 that EES will take one to two years to stabilise because first-time biometric enrolment is the hardest part of the rollout. The flexibility window for suspension closes in September with no extension planned.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Schengen passport 10-year rule: what EES now enforces
Schengen requires your passport to have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive, as well as having 3 months' validity after departure. UK travellers who renewed before October 2018 may hold documents that look fine but silently fail the test. EES automated gates now catch it every time.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
ETIAS for Norway, Switzerland and Iceland explained
All four non-EU Schengen members, including Liechtenstein, require ETIAS for visitors from late 2026. One authorisation covers all 30 countries. Here is why they are included and what it means for your trip.
Read → - Schengen rules5 min read
EES caught 7,000 Schengen overstayers: what happens next
The EU Entry/Exit System flagged nearly 7,000 overstayers in its first six months, per the May 2026 State of Schengen report. A logged overstay now stays on record for three years, can trigger an entry ban and may affect your future ETIAS application.
Read → - Schengen rules5 min read
Schengen 90 days: what EES means for remote workers in 2026
EES now tracks every Schengen crossing digitally. The strategies long-stay travellers once relied on no longer work, and an overstay logged now stays on your record when ETIAS launches.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES for Mediterranean cruises: who needs biometrics
EES has been live at every Schengen border since April 2026. Most cruise passengers on UK round-trips are exempt from individual EES checks at port calls. Fly-cruise passengers and those boarding in the EU are not.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Why Italy and Portugal are pausing EES biometric checks
Italy and Portugal have activated a temporary EU mechanism to pause biometric registration at busy airports when queues spike. Your 90-day stay clock starts on arrival regardless, and fingerprints are collected on your next Schengen crossing.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EU links its border databases: what changes for travellers
On 12 June 2026, the EU activated the European Search Portal and Common Identity Repository, giving border officials a single query across EES, SIS, Eurodac and more. ETIAS will join the same infrastructure when it launches.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Schengen internal border checks in 2026: nine countries
Nine Schengen countries have reintroduced temporary passport checks at their internal borders. Germany and France are the most significant for summer travellers. The EU Commission has told them to phase the controls out, but they remain in place.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Airlines check EES status before boarding: what it means
Since April 2026, every carrier flying into Schengen must run an electronic check before boarding. A not-OK result means denied boarding. When ETIAS launches, the same check will cover that too.
Read → - Launch timeline4 min read
Can you travel to Europe without ETIAS after launch?
When ETIAS goes live in late 2026 it will not be mandatory at once. A transitional period of at least six months, then a grace period, gives travellers at least a year before it becomes a hard requirement. The two phases explained.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES app: how the Travel to Europe app cuts queues
Frontex’s free Travel to Europe app lets you pre-register your passport and face for EES before you fly. It speeds up the border, but it won’t let you skip it, your fingerprints are still taken in person, and it only fully works in Sweden so far.
Read → - Borders4 min read
Greece ends EES exemption for British travellers
Greece briefly stopped taking biometric data from UK visitors after EES launched in April, citing tourism concerns. The EU said the exemption was unauthorised. Athens reversed the decision on 31 May 2026. All nationalities now face full EES registration at Greek borders.
Read → - Borders4 min read
UK ETA outage June 2026: what went wrong and the lesson
The UK's ETA portal went down on 3 June, leaving some travellers without boarding approval. The system is back up. But the incident shows exactly why leaving an ETA application to the last minute is a gamble.
Read → - Application process4 min read
How ETIAS assesses your application: checks and timeline
Most ETIAS applications will clear in minutes via automated checks against EU and international databases. Here is what the system screens, what triggers manual review, and why your EES travel history now matters.
Read → - Schengen rules4 min read
Schengen 90/180 rule: the calculation people get wrong
The 90-day limit is a rolling calculation, not a fixed reset that refreshes every six months. EES now tracks every Schengen crossing electronically. Here is how to count your remaining days correctly.
Read → - Launch timeline4 min read
ETIAS launch date: where the EU timeline stands for 2026
The EU is still aiming for a last-quarter 2026 start, with a phased rollout before ETIAS becomes mandatory in 2027. Here is the current position and what it means for travellers.
Read → - Borders4 min read
The EU’s Entry/Exit System is now live at every border
EES has been fully operational across Schengen borders since April 2026. Here is what it records, how it differs from ETIAS, and why it clears the way for ETIAS to launch.
Read → - Fees3 min read
ETIAS will cost €20: who pays, who doesn’t, and what it covers
The ETIAS fee is set at €20 per application, up from the long-quoted €7. Under-18s and over-70s pay nothing, and one authorisation covers up to three years of trips.
Read → - Scam watch4 min read
Fake ETIAS websites are already taking money. How to spot them
ETIAS is not open yet, but copycat sites are already charging for it. The simple test that exposes them, the red flags to watch, and what to do if you have paid.
Read → - Borders4 min read
EES border queues in summer 2026: how long to allow
EES has been running at every Schengen border since April, and queues at major airports are already stretching to two or three hours for first-time visitors. Here is how much extra time to build in this summer.
Read →
Get one email when ETIAS opens
Get one email when ETIAS applications open. No passport details. No payment before launch.