Europe Entry Requirements and Airport Security

This checklist supplements our guide to EES, ETIAS, UK ETA, and changing airport security procedures for EU travel in 2026 and 2027.

LAST VERIFIED on August 6, 2026

EES AND ETIAS UPDATE (August 6, 2026): The Entry/Exit System (EES) remains fully operational across the external borders of the Schengen Area despite a bumpy rollout and continuing difficulties at some border crossings. ETIAS, however, will not launch in late 2026 as previously anticipated. No revised start date has been officially announced, and travelers do not need to apply or take any action at this time. The European Union says it will announce the ETIAS launch date several months before the system becomes operational. Check the official EU ETIAS website before travel and avoid third-party websites offering advance applications or registration.

SMART TRAVEL
Quick Reference Checklist

Use this checklist to prepare for trips from the United States to Europe and the United Kingdom as border systems and airport security procedures evolve. Rules can change quickly, so reconfirm every requirement on the linked official website shortly before travel.

1. Passport Identification and Trusted Traveler basics

Start with the basics: confirm that your passport, identification, and trusted-traveler credentials will remain valid for every stage of the trip.

  • Confirm that your passport was issued within the last 10 years and will remain valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen Area. Some U.S. State Department country pages recommend additional validity, for example, for Austria, where six months of remaining validity is recommended. Due to these variations, check the official guidance for every country on your itinerary.  U.S. State Department: Austria entry requirements
  • For U.S. domestic flight segments, bring a REAL ID-compliant license or another TSA-accepted identification document. A valid U.S. passport is accepted in place of a REAL ID.  TSA: Acceptable identification.
  • Check that TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI membership is active and that your Known Traveler Number/PASSID appears in every airline reservation. Global Entry membership lasts five years and includes TSA PreCheck eligibility for qualifying members when the number is added to the booking.  TSA PreCheck | CBP Global Entry.

2. Europe Entry/Exit System (EES)

Conditions as of summer 2026: EES implementation continues to cause uneven and, at times, severe delays at some European border crossings. Industry leaders and EU officials have indicated that resolving the system’s technical and operational shortcomings could take into 2027. Conditions vary considerably by location, staffing, passenger volume, and available infrastructure, so check current airport and airline guidance shortly before travel. AFAR

  • Do not assume the official Travel to Europe app, which allows eligible travelers to submit some EES registration information in advance, will be available for your route. As of July 2026, its functions are limited to participating crossings in Sweden and Portugal (and functions differ by participating country), i.e., not Austria, Czechia, Germany, or Hungary.  EU: Travel to Europe app
  • Expect EES registration when crossing an external border of a participating European country for a short stay. The system records passport data, the date and place of entry or exit, a facial image and fingerprints for covered non-EU travelers. Routine passport stamping has been replaced by the digital record.  EU: What is EES? | EU: Data held by EES
  • Allow additional time for your first EES registration. At the border, you may need to scan your passport, provide a facial image and fingerprints, answer entry questions, and complete the check with a border officer. At later crossings, border authorities may verify your identity against the existing record rather than repeat the initial registration in full. Overall waiting times may still vary considerably by airport or border crossing, available technology, staffing levels, passenger volume, and system performance.  EU: How EES works
  • Travelers using a valid non-biometric passport may still enter countries using EES, but they can’t use automated self-service systems, such as registration kiosks, where these are available. In this case, expect processing by a border officer. EU: EES FAQs
  • Use the same passport throughout the trip. A replacement passport may require a new EES record because EES data are linked to the travel document presented at registration.  EU: EES FAQs
  • Track the 90-days-in-any-180-days limit across all participating countries. EES calculates authorized stay, but you remain responsible for complying with the rule.  EU: Check how long you can stay

3. European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

ETIAS is not yet in operation as of August 2026, and travelers should not apply at this time. The timetable for the program’s official launch has been delayed, with no new start date announced. Check the official ETIAS portal for confirmation before travel.

  • Do not apply for ETIAS yet. The EU will announce the exact date of ETIAS launch several months in advance. Use only the official EU website when applications open. Do not use websites offering advance registration or an ETIAS application before the system opens.  EU: ETIAS official portal
  • Once operational, ETIAS will be an online pre-travel authorization — not a visa — for short stays by visa-exempt travelers visiting 30 participating European countries. Travelers who require a visa will continue to use the visa process instead.  EU: What is ETIAS?
  • Apply with the passport you will use for travel. ETIAS will be electronically linked to that passport; a new passport will require a new authorization.  EU: ETIAS application requirements

4. United Kingdom: Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

The UK ETA is separate from the European EES and ETIAS systems, so travelers entering or transiting the United Kingdom should check its requirements independently.

  • Check whether your nationality requires a UK ETA and apply only through GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app. Third-party websites may imitate government services and charge more. An ETA is digital permission to travel; it is not a visa and does not guarantee admission at the border.  GOV.UK: Apply for an ETA
  • For a UK flight connection, determine whether you will pass through UK passport control. Travelers who do so generally need an ETA. True airside transit without passport control is currently (July 2026) covered by a temporary ETA exemption only at Heathrow and Manchester.  UK Home Office: ETA factsheet | GOV.UK: Transit guidance
  • Eurostar, LeShuttle and Dover are not airside transit. EES registration for eligible travelers takes place in the UK before departure at these juxtaposed border controls.  GOV.UK: EES at juxtaposed ports

5. Security Screening and Packing

Security rules can differ between the United States and Europe, and even between airports, terminals, and screening lanes, so prepare for the strictest applicable rules rather than just defaulting to those in place at your departure airport.

  • Pack U.S. carry-on liquids under TSA’s 3-1-1 rule: containers of 3.4 oz/100 ml or less inside one clear, quart-size resealable bag per traveler. Larger medically necessary liquids are permitted in reasonable quantities but must be declared for screening. TSA: Liquids rule | TSA: Medically necessary liquids
  • For Europe pack according to the strictest security rules at every airport where you will be screened. CT scanners may allow electronics and compliant liquids to remain inside the bag, but procedures still vary by airport, terminal and screening lane. Unless every relevant airport clearly states otherwise, use containers of no more than 100 ml in a one-liter-bag standard.  European Commission: Liquids and aviation security
  • At standard U.S. checkpoints, travelers may generally keep shoes on. Officers may still request removal during additional screening or when equipment alarms.  TSA: Shoes-on policy
  • Carry cordless butane curling irons in carry-on baggage only, with a safety cover and protection against accidental activation; spare gas cartridges are prohibited. Check airline and international rules before travel. Corded electric hair tools are not restricted under FAA hazardous-material rules.  FAA PackSafe: Cordless curling irons

6. Official Resources

Because border control systems and airport security screening rules are changing, it will be important to check official sources as you are planning your trip and the week before your departure to avoid unwelcome surprises at the airport.

Government Websites

Airport Websites

For context on how EES, ETIAS, UK ETA, and changing airport security procedures may affect your trip, read the full 2026–2027 Europe Entry and Airport Security Guide.