The €20 EU travel pass still has no start date — passport stamps are already gone

EES has been fully live since 10 April; ETIAS is officially planned for late 2026, with no day announced.

The Entry/Exit System has digitally logged every non-EU visitor’s border crossing in the Schengen area since 10 April 2026, replacing passport stamps. Next comes ETIAS: visa-free visitors, such as Britons and Americans, will need a €20 online travel authorisation before travelling. The Commission’s official line is still that ETIAS starts in the last quarter of 2026, but no date has been announced, and it promises to give the date several months ahead. Press reports say the launch is slipping to 2027 (not confirmed officially).

For youEU citizens: nothing to do. Non-EU friends and family don’t need ETIAS yet — and should use only the official ETIAS site once it opens, not paid look-alikes.

Next: After launch there is a transition period of at least six months and then a grace period of at least six months before ETIAS is fully enforced.

Verified against the sources above on 29 September 2026. Plain-language summary — not the legal text and not legal advice.