For a trip involving the UK or the Schengen area, three names are worth separating: the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), Europe's Entry/Exit System (EES), and the forthcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This is a September 25, 2026 briefing on those systems, not a list of every destination's entry restrictions.
UK ETA: permission must be in place before travel
The UK began enforcing digital permission-to-travel checks on February 25, 2026. Eligible visa-exempt visitors need an approved ETA or another valid permission before boarding. The requirement depends on nationality, immigration status, and the purpose of travel. Home Office enforcement announcement.
The current GOV.UK guidance lists the ETA fee as £20. Older announcements quote a different fee. British and Irish passport holders and people with permission to live, work or study in the UK are among those who do not need an ETA. Each eligible traveller needs their own, including children. If a connection involves passing through UK border control, check the ETA or visa requirement for that journey.
Apply using the passport you will carry. GOV.UK says decisions usually arrive within a day but can take up to three working days; wait for approval before travelling. An ETA lasts two years or until that passport expires, whichever comes first. It does not guarantee entry. Official application guidance.
EES: a border process already in operation
EES became fully operational on April 10, 2026. It records eligible non-EU short-stay travellers at external Schengen borders, including passport information, facial images and fingerprints. There are exemptions, including EU nationals and certain residence-permit or long-stay-visa holders. Check the Commission's explanation of who is exempt for your circumstances.
You do not apply for EES travel authorisation before a trip: registration happens as part of the border process. That is a different task from getting an ETA. Allow room in your plans for border formalities rather than assuming a previous connection time will feel the same. How the Commission distinguishes EES and ETIAS.
ETIAS: applications are not open at this review date
On September 25, 2026, the official ETIAS website states that ETIAS is not in operation and is not collecting applications. It says the EU will announce the specific start date before launch. Do not treat older projected dates as proof that you need an ETIAS approval today.
ETIAS will be a pre-travel authorisation for eligible visa-exempt visitors to participating European countries. EES operating at the border does not mean ETIAS has opened. Check the official page again when planning a later trip.
One practical tip: check the whole route together
Check the operating airline's document guidance as well as destination and transit authorities before departure. For cabin preparation, continue with our TSA guide and power-bank guide, then use the free packing checklist to record your remaining tasks.
Sources and review date
Checked on . Requirements can change. Use the official links to check your route again before departure.
- Home Office: ETA enforcement from February 25, 2026
- GOV.UK: current ETA eligibility, fee and transit guidance
- GOV.UK: applying, decision times and passport linkage
- European Commission: EES operation and exemptions
- European Commission: how EES and ETIAS differ
- Official ETIAS website: current application status
