Last October, we published a post explaining the three new European travel requirements — ETA, EES, and ETIAS. A lot has changed since then. With summer travel season just weeks away, this is the right time for an honest update.
The short version: EES is now fully live across all 29 Schengen countries, but implementation has been rocky — particularly in Portugal, where the situation has been, frankly, a mess. ETIAS is still coming but not yet required. Here’s what you need to know right now.
EES: Fully Operational as of April 10, 2026
As of April 10, 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System is fully operational across all Schengen countries. The system replaces passport stamping with digital records of entries and exits of non-EU nationals coming for short stays. It records travelers’ facial images, fingerprints, and personal data from their travel documents.
When you arrive at any Schengen border crossing — by air, sea, or land — you will be registered in the EES. Your first time entering the Schengen Area under EES takes longer, as the border agent or an automated kiosk captures your biometric data: four fingerprints and a facial image. On subsequent entries, the system recognizes you and the process is faster.
Since its introduction, more than 52 million entries and exits have been registered, with over 27,000 refusals of entry. The system is working — but that doesn’t mean the experience at every airport is smooth. Far from it.
The Portugal Situation: An Honest Account
I want to be direct with you about Portugal, because we know and love this country and many of our readers are planning trips there this summer.
The EES implementation in Portugal has been a genuine struggle, and the problems are not over.
When EES first went live in Portugal in October 2025 and then expanded to include biometric collection in December, Lisbon’s already stretched airport infrastructure struggled to cope. Border queues of several hours were reported during the worst periods. The Portuguese government suspended the EES at Lisbon Airport in late December 2025 after waiting times of up to seven hours were reported during the holiday period.
The system was gradually reintroduced in early 2026, but the problems did not go away. Today, April 13, 2026, Portugal’s PSP border police suspended biometric data collection at departures from Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports to prevent passengers from missing flights. The current situation is essentially this: when queues become unmanageable, Portugal suspends the system temporarily to clear the backlog, then reinstates it. One traveler quoted in Portuguese media summed it up well: “Summer will be chaos if this on/off practice continues.”
Portugal has installed self-service kiosks at airports and joined the “Travel to Europe” app initiative to help speed up processing, but these measures have not yet solved the underlying bottleneck.
What this means for you
If you are flying into or out of Lisbon, Porto, or Faro this summer, budget significant extra time at passport control. Arrive at the airport earlier than you normally would. Do NOT book tight connections. Download the Travel to Europe app before your trip — it allows you to pre-register your passport and facial image within 72 hours of reaching an EES border point, which can speed up your processing time.
It’s also worth noting that Portugal is not alone in experiencing difficulties. Spain has had technical failures at some airports, and Belgium, France, and the Netherlands have reportedly chosen to suspend EES operations entirely for the time being. Implementation is uneven across the 29 countries, and your experience may vary significantly depending on which country you enter first.
What To Do Before You Travel to Europe This Summer
A few practical steps that will help you navigate EES this summer:
Download the Travel to Europe app. It allows eligible non-EU travelers to pre-register passport data and facial image within 72 hours of an EES border crossing. This is optional but can save you time in the queue.
Arrive at the airport early. Add at least an extra hour to your normal arrival time for international departures from Portugal and other high-traffic Schengen airports this summer. Do not book tight domestic connections after clearing an EES border point. Read our recent post about layovers or watch our YouTube video on layovers.
Do not book back-to-back connections through Lisbon. Given the ongoing processing challenges at Humberto Delgado Airport, a missed connection due to a two-hour passport control queue is a real possibility this summer.
Be patient and prepared. The first time you register in the EES takes the longest. Subsequent entries will be faster as your biometrics are already on file.
ETIAS: Still Coming, But Not Yet Required
Good news for summer travelers: ETIAS — the European Travel Information and Authorization System — is not yet in effect and will not be required this summer.
As of April 2026, ETIAS is confirmed for launch in Q4 2026 — October through December — but it will not be mandatory until 2027. Once ETIAS launches, there will be a six-month transitional period during which travelers will be asked to apply but won’t be refused entry without one. That will be followed by a six-month grace period for first-time arrivals. This means the earliest ETIAS becomes a hard requirement for all travelers is likely mid-2027.
When it does launch, the process will be straightforward: an online application costing €20, linked to your passport, valid for three years. Most applications are processed within minutes to a few days. It is similar in concept to the US ESTA system that international visitors must use to enter America.
We will keep you informed as the ETIAS launch date approaches and publish a full guide before it becomes mandatory.
The ETA Reminder
For those traveling to the United Kingdom — which is separate from the EU and the Schengen Area — the ETA requirement remains in place and is working smoothly. Apply through the UK ETA app before your trip. The cost is £16, linked to your passport, and is valid for two years. As we noted in our original post, our experience with it at Newcastle Airport was seamless.
The Bottom Line for Summer 2026
EES is live and you will encounter it at every Schengen border. Your first registration will take extra time — have patience and build buffer into your airport schedule. Portugal in particular is experiencing ongoing implementation challenges, so give yourself extra time at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports. ETIAS is not yet required and will not affect your summer travel plans. And as always, subscribe to our Newsletter for updates — this is exactly the kind of fast-moving travel requirement that we monitor so you don’t have to.
Safe travels this summer. We’ll be out there too.
Buddy and Jordan
For our original full explanation of ETA, EES, and ETIAS, see our October 2025 post: “Demystifying the International Travel Requirements.” And subscribe to our Newsletter for breaking updates on travel requirements, airline policies, and destination news.