No More EU Stamps in your passport

From Stamp to Scan—Europe's New Travel Plan.

​✈️  The rules of travel to most European countries are changing. The European Union (EU) has introduced two major systems that modernize border control for travelers.

As background, the EU is a border-free travel zone for EU citizens. Within this zone, member nations have abolished passport and immigration controls for their citizens, at their common borders. This border-free zone allows citizens of EU member nations to travel freely as if they were moving within a single country. The title given to the border-free zone is the Schengen Area, referring to the 1985 Schengen Agreement that established the border-free zone.

For Non-EU travelers, the first new border control system, that is already active, is the Entry/Exit System (EES) which affects all travelers to the EU. The second new system is the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) that will affect visa-exempt travel to Europe, including travelers from the US and Canada. Here is a summary of the changes:

1) EES — ✅ Already active (April 2026). 
The EES technically became fully operational as of April 10, 2026. As of June 2026, however, only Portugal and Sweden were using EES for most travelers. EES should apply to all non-EU travelers, including U.S. and Canadian citizens. Whether or not you need a visa, you will be tracked by the EES. It covers short stays: up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

With the EES, there are:
❌  No more passport stamps     
✅  Your entry/exit is recorded digitally
✅  You must provide biometric data: fingerprints, facial image and passport details.

In short, EES changes how you enter Europe, but not whether you can enter. There is no application required beforehand. You register at the border when you arrive. The system automatically tracks your stay and helps prevent overstaying.

2) ETIAS — 🟡 Coming Soon (late 2026 rollout)
The ETIAS is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026 (around October–December). It applies to all visa‑exempt travelers (including the US and Canada) and covers about 30 European countries. The ETIAS is a mandatory, pre-travel authorization (not a visa), similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). 

Before traveling to the EU, visa-exempt travelers will need to:

• Fill out an online application
• Provide personal/passport info
• Pay a small fee
• Receive approval before boarding your flight.

For most travelers, approval for the ETIAS will happen online within minutes and will be valid for up to 3 years or until your passport expires. Once fully operational, ETIAS approval will be required for all visa-exempt trips, even short tourist or business trips.

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Both the EES and the ETIAS are designed to:

• Improve border security
• Track short‑term stays more accurately
• Reduce fraud and overstays
• Modernize and streamline border procedures

What this means for US and Canadian travelers:

​If you’re planning a Europe trip for the summer of 2026, you will use the EES system at the border. 

If you're planning a Europe trip for this fall or beyond you will need to apply for ETIAS before departure and your airlines will check your approval before you may board the plane.

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​About the ETIAS Rollout
Once it is fully operational, travelers will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization well in advance of starting their trip to Europe. To apply, each traveler will need to provide personal information including address, passport details, current occupation, information about past travel to conflict zones and criminal convictions. No biometric data, such as fingerprints, is collected with ETIAS -- that information will be collected when being screened for entry via the EES system.

No action is required until the initial rollout begins. The start date for the ETIAS rollout is expected to be October 1, 2026. The first 6 months after the rollout begins will be a transition period, during which the the ETIAS will be expected but not required. The following 6 months will be a grace period, during which travelers may enter one of the 30 EU countries only ONE time with no penalty. After that the ETIAS will be required for all travelers from 59 visa-exempt countries. The list of  countries from which travelers will be required to have ETIAS authorization can be found here: visa-exempt countries and territories.

Applying for ETIAS
The ETIAS application will only be available to be completed electronically via the official ETIAS portal. There is no option to apply in person or on paper. An ETIAS application is expected to cost 20 euros for people between 18 and 70 years old, but will be free for all other ages, and for family members of EU citizens. Be cautious of scams and unofficial websites claiming to process your ETIAS application for an additional fee. Always use the official European Union (EU) website. 

Documents and Information You Will Need: 

• A valid passport (must be machine-readable and valid for at least three months beyond your trip).
• An active email address (ETIAS approval is sent electronically).
• A credit or debit card (to pay the €20 fee for applicants between the ages of 18 to 70 years old).

You will also need to answer a few security questions concerning:

• Your travel history (past trips to Europe or other regions).
• Health conditions that could be relevant to public safety.
• Criminal background related to serious offenses like terrorism or fraud.
• False details or incomplete answers can result in your application being denied or delayed. 

Step 1: Access the Official ETIAS Website
The online application must be completed through this portal.

Step 2: Complete the ETIAS Application Form
Filling out the form takes about 10 minutes if you have your travel documents and details ready.

Step 3: Pay the ETIAS Application Fee
Most applicants must pay a €20 processing fee using a credit or debit card. However, if you are under 18 or over 70, you do not have to pay.

That's it! Most ETIAS applications should be processed within minutes. However, some may take up to 30 days if additional checks are required. No more EU stamps in your passport, but a more streamlined and secure entry system going forward.

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United Kingdom (UK) Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

Visa-exempt citizens from the US, Canada and most EU countries that want to visit the United Kingdom for tourism, business, short study, or other eligible short stays generally already need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travel. The digital system was introduced last year, with a long rollout period before it became fully required at the beginning of this year. 

Like ETIAS, an ETA is a digital pre-travel permission, not a visa. The digital application for an ETA must be completed at the official UK Visa Portal. Once approved, the ETA is good for up to 2 years and covers multiple visits within that period. The maximum length of stay under an ETA is 186 days.

The current cost for an ETA is ~$30. The authorization applies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. If you are changing planes via a UK airport hub, but do not need to go through border control, you likely will not need an ETA.

ETAs are usually approved within minutes, but the UK government recommends applying at least 3 days prior to your travel date. In early June 2026, a number of travelers ran into technical issues or error messages during their digital ETA application process.  When the errors were not resolved before their travel date,  they reported being denied boarding on their outgoing UK flights. Carriers are required to verify ETA approval before allowing passengers to board their flights, so don't wait until the last minute to apply! ​

Bottom line: The European Union is not removing visa-free travel, but it is adding digital tracking (EES) and pre-approval (ETIAS). Likewise, the  UK now uses an electronic, pre-travel authorization system (ETA). 

Ready to plan your next European Adventure?