Delayed many times, new entry regulations for Europe are now here

Promised for years and delayed many times, new entry regulations for Europe are now here. Please familirize yourself with these new regulations and travel with confidence.

As you plan your next European getaway, it’s important to understand two new systems that will affect how Canadian passport holders enter and exit many popular destinations. These are not visas, but they change what happens at the border and, eventually, how you prepare before you travel. Both are part of the European Union’s modernised border management effort: the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Each has its own purpose, introduction timetable, and requirements, so getting acquainted with them now will help you travel with confidence.

What Is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?

Being introduced now

No action required

The EES is a digital border management system designed to replace traditional passport stamping when non-EU nationals enter and leave the Schengen Area**. It is being gradually introduced as we speak, with full implementation expected by 10 April 2026.

Under EES, when you arrive at a Schengen external border you will provide digital information — including your passport details and biometric identifiers such as fingerprints and a facial image — at border control. This data will be stored electronically and checked each time you cross the border, helping authorities track how long visitors remain in the area and enforce the 90-day limit within any 180-day period.

For Canadian and US travellers, there’s no action you must take before you leave home for EES — it kicks in at the border. However, arriving prepared for a biometric check and allowing a little extra time in your travel schedule during the initial rollout months will keep your experience smooth.

You can find more information on EES here.

What Is ETIAS and How Is It Different?

Operational late 2026

Fees payable prior to travel

ETIAS, on the other hand, is a pre-travel authorisation requirement and not a border control system itself. Canadian and US citizens who travel visa-free to Europe will eventually be required to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation online before they board their flight or cross the border. If you have travelled to the UK lately, you will be familiar with their system which is very similar.

This system is currently not yet in operation. Official EU sources indicate that *ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026, with the precise date to be announced well in advance (typically six months before launch). Once it becomes operational, Canadians will need to complete an online authorisation form, pay a small fee, and receive their approval before they can legally enter the ETIAS zone for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The authorisation itself is expected to be valid for up to three years or until your passport expires — whichever comes first.

You can find more information on ETIAS here.

Practical Advice for Travellers

• Expect biometric entry checks when entering the Schengen Area

• Allow extra time at border control, especially during the initial months of rollout.

• Be sure to apply for ETIAS before travel once the system goes live in late 2026.

** The Schengen Area consists of most EU countries and all members of the European Free Trade Association. Current members are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Notable European countries that are not Schengen members include the UK and Ireland, Cyprus, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia and Moldova,