Travel to Spain: Your questions answered about EES and ETIAS

They've been in the planning for years, and postponed several times due to concerns about readiness, but the EU's two big travel changes are now due to come into effect between late 2025 and 2026.

At the time of writing, the start date for the Entry & Exit System (EES) is October 12th, 2025, with a six-month phased introduction.

It will be followed by the European Travel Authorisation and Information System (ETIAS) in the final quarter of 2026 - exact date still is to be confirmed. ETIAS will also be rolled out in a phased introduction over six months.

There's no guarantee that these won't be postponed again, but as things stand travel will begin to change later this year.

You can read the full explanation of these two systems HERE, but essentially EES is an enhanced biometric passport check which also digitises enforcement of the 90-day rule to replace manual passport stamping, while ETIAS is an online visa waiver required for tourists and other visitors into the EU/Schengen zone.

There's no doubt that these will have a big impact on travel in and out of the Schengen zone, and unsurprisingly, readers of The Local have questions.

Much of the official information is aimed at tourists, rather than people who have a visa or residency permit in an EU/Schengen zone country. Here are some of the most common questions we have been asked, broken down into sections on first EES and then ETIAS. 

EES (Entry & Exit System)

I'm not an EU citizen, but I'm a resident of an EU country, do I need to complete EES pre-registration? This is the big question for readers of The Local, many of whom are non-EU citizens who live in an EU/Schengen zone country with either a long-stay visa or a residency permit.

They are not covered by EES and do not have to complete EES pre registration or provide biometrics - the reason for this is that a primary function of the system is to better monitor the '90 day rule', which of course residents are not limited by.

However, while it is clear that residents are not covered by EES, exactly how this will work in practice at an airport, station or port remains frustratingly unclear, with foreign EU residents told only to not use automated passport gates and try to find a manned booth where you can show both your passport and visa/residency permit. 

I'm a second home owner, does this apply to me? It depends - do you have a visa or not? Some second-home owners want to spend more than 90 days out of every 180 at their property in Spain, so they get a short-term visa (less than six months), which allows them extended stays but does not make them a resident of the country.

Visa-holders are not required to complete EES, but anyone who doesn't have a visa or residency permit is required to complete EES pre-registration, owning property does not, in itself, give you any specific rights in the country where your property is located. 

I have a visa, what about me? Visa-holders are not required to complete EES pre-registration and this applies to all types of visa, including the short-stay Schengen visa.

While nationals of countries such as the UK, USA, Canada and Australia benefit from up to 90 days of visa-free travel into the EU/Schengen zone, citizens of other countries - including Turkey and India - need a visa even for short visits. Those coming for a stay of less than 90 days - for example tourists or people paying family visits - get a Schengen visa. Schengen visa holders are not covered by EES.

Holders of other visa types - for example student visas, working visas, non-lucrative or visitor visas - are also exempt from EES requirements. 

I'm a citizen of an EU, EEA or Schengen zone country. You are exempt from EES requirements.

I'm a dual national, holding the passports of both an EU and non-EU country (eg Franco-British or Italian-American). - For dual nationals it depends on the passport you are travelling on - those travelling on the non-EU passport will need EES, those travelling on the EU passport won't.

One quick caveat here - the EES website is not actually up and running yet, so we don't know exactly how the online pre-registration process will work. The rule is outlined above is how it is supposed to work in theory - hopefully it will avoid the fiasco of the UK's ETA system which in effect bars British dual nationals from travelling on their non-UK passport. 

How much does it cost? There is no fee for EES, it's ETIAS that has a cost. 

How do I prepare for this? Assuming you're not in one of the exempt groups, you will need to complete EES pre registration the first time you cross an external Schengen border after the introduction of the system.

The pre registration involves filling out a questionnaire with personal details, and supplying fingerprints and a facial scan. Exactly how these details will be taken depends on the system at the entry port - for example the process at Port of Dover passengers for the car ferries will be slightly different to the airport protocols.

But once you have completed the registration you will not need to do that again until you get a new passport - after that it will simply be a case of scanning your passport at the automated passport controls.  

Some airports and ports are already running live testing of their systems so you might encounter this when you travel.

There is at present no way of completing pre-registration in advance of arrival at the airport/port/station - any website offering to complete EES for you is a scam site. 

Are there scams? Unfortunately yes, scammers are already taking advantage of both EES and ETIAS to try to get your money and personal details.

Will it be required everywhere after October 12th? Due to concerns about delays and readiness, the European Commission has opted for a phased introduction for this, aiming for full implementation within six months (so by April 2026).

So it's not a big bang roll out at every port and airport. During the introduction phase it will be up to each country to choose which ports/airports/stations that will enforce EES, although they must have a certain percentage of entry points using the system.

There will also be the option for ports to pause EES checks in the event of long queues, something projected to be a particular problem at the busy UK-France border.

ETIAS

After EES comes ETIAS, its current start date is the final quarter of 2026 (so between October and December), but it won't be introduced until EES is fully up and running, so any further delays to that will effect ETIAS too. 

This is different in format to EES - it requires travellers to go online in advance of their trip, fill in a form and pay the €20 fee in order to receive the ETIAS travel authorisation. Once purchased this will last three years (or until you get a new passport) and covers multiple trips.

I'm a resident of an EU/Schengen country, am I exempt? Yes. ETIAS is mostly aimed at tourists and visitors - non-EU citizens who live in an EU, EEA or Schengen zone country with a visa or residency permit are exempt. Simply show your passport and visa/residency permit at the border, just as you do now.

I'm a second-home owner, am I exempt? As with EES, it depends on whether you have a visa or not. Visa-holders are exempt, people travelling under the 90-day allowance are not.

I'm only making a weekend trip, am I exempt? No, ETIAS is required for all tourists and visitors to the Schengen zone, even if they are only making a short trip.

I have a Schengen visa, am I exempt? If you are a national of a country that does not benefit from the 90-day rule for visa free travel then you will need the short-stay visitor visa known as the Schengen visa in order to enter the Bloc. Because you have a visa, you are exempt from ETIAS. The same applies to all other visa holders.

I'm a pensioner, am I exempt? If you are over the age of 70 or under the age of 18 you are not exempt from the requirement for an ETIAS visa waiver, but you are exempt from the fee. Simply fill out the online form and, once you have entered your date of birth, the form will skip the payment section.

Can I apply now? No. The ETIAS website is not yet up and running, it is expected to come online a couple of months before the start date (which is, at present, late 2026).

Any website which at present is claiming to process ETIAS applications or offering to help you with them is a scam.

Is this a phased introduction too? Yes, although in a slightly different way to EES. Once ETIAS is introduced, you will still be allowed into the EU without one for the first six months - this is intended as the 'education phase', where those travelling without an ETIAS will be informed of the new requirements, but won't be blocked from entering the EU.

Only after spring 2027 (if all goes according to plan) will people start to be turned back at the border if they don't have an ETIAS.

Still confused? Put your questions in the comment section below and we will do our best to answer them