ETIAS & EES: What Long‑Term Movers Need to Know About Europe’s New Travel Authorization System
European Union Flag
Starting in late 2026, U.S. citizens—and other passport holders from over 50 visa-exempt countries—will need ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) approval before traveling to most European countries. This is similar to the U.S. ESTA process and will significantly affect both short- and long-term travelers.
What Is ETIAS—and Why Is It Being Introduced?
ETIAS is not a visa, but a mandatory online authorization system covering 30 countries in the Schengen Zone, plus Cyprus. Starting in the last quarter of 2026, travelers will be required to complete a digital application and pay a fee (estimated between €7 and €20 depending on policy changes) that covers a range of security and immigration pre‑screening checks. Authorization is valid for three years or until passport expiry.
ETIAS depends on the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES)—an EU-wide biometric border-tracking database, which begins October 2025 and completes by April 2026. Passport stamps will be phased out entirely.
Relevance for Long-Term Movers & Global Mobility Planning
Tourism vs. residency: ETIAS only applies to short stays (max 90 days in any 180-day period). Those planning to live, work, or study in Europe still need a proper visa or residency permit through the destination country’s embassy.
ETIAS is traveler-linked: Once approved, authorization is electronically linked to your passport. If you renew your passport, you must reapply. Plan ahead to avoid misalignment between travel timing and valid passports.
Corporate/employer travel policies: Companies with relocating or frequently traveling employees should begin identifying affected profiles and update internal travel policies to include ETIAS and EES awareness well before launch.
Timing considerations: Since ETIAS may trigger processing delays or technical issues during the transitional and grace periods, it's advisable to apply at least two weeks before travel, ideally earlier if any security-related flags may cause longer processing times.
Beyond Borders Advisory Framework
Here's how Beyond Borders recommends clients prepare:
Area Advisory Action
Passport review Ensure passports are: issued within last 10 years and valid at least 3 months beyond stay
ETIAS monitoring Subscribe to updates from official EU ETIAS portal and avoid unauthorized third-party sites.
Pre‑planning for long stays Apply for national visa/residency if stay >90 days; ETIAS alone doesn’t substitute.
Corporate compliance Employers should audit travel profiles, communicate new policy, and integrate pre-trip checkpoints.
Backup planning Plan for overlaps: old passport, expired ETIA, and travel booked before ETIAS launch.
Key Takeaways:
ETIAS is launching late 2026, but relies on EES rollout starting October 2025 through April 2026.
It applies to visa-exempt travelers for short stays only—does not replace long-term resident permits.
Authorization is linked to the traveler's passport and costs are projected to rise between €7 and €20.
Beyond Borders will support clients by tracking these developments, guiding timing, and integrating ETIAS into relocation readiness planning.
At Beyond Borders, we’ll monitor all developments closely and help our clients seamlessly integrate ETIAS requirements into both individual relocation plans and broader corporate global mobility strategies. Ready to move long term or support staff abroad? We can map out personalized timelines to ensure you're always compliant and prepared.
