Non-EU guests in 2026-2027: what changes with the EES (Entry/Exit System) and ETIAS, and what a property has to do (and not do)

Updated: 10 November 2026

Your British, American or Canadian guests no longer get a stamp in their passport: since 2026 the EES registers them at the border, and later they will need ETIAS. We read the EU regulations on EUR-Lex and the official pages of the European Commission, the European External Action Service and eu-LISA (links at the end). We only give what they say; where we could not confirm something, we say so. This is not legal advice: for specific cases, ask the border authorities and your adviser.

Summary

EES: progressive start on 12 October 2025, fully operational since 10 April 2026 in 29 European countries. It replaces passport stamping (Regulation (EU) 2017/2226).
ETIAS: an online travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers. It costs EUR 20 and is valid for 3 years or until the passport expires (Regulation (EU) 2018/1240). The Commission expected it in the last quarter of 2026; as of 10 November 2026 we found no official start date: not confirmed.
Properties do not have to check EES or ETIAS: checks are done by border police and, for ETIAS, also by carriers.
What stays the same: your country's guest registration (SES.HOSPEDAJES, Alloggiati Web, SIBA, Ψηφιακό Πελατολόγιο).

What the EES is and what data it takes

The Entry/Exit System registers non-EU nationals coming for a short stay, with or without a visa, every time they cross the external border.

Data: name, travel document data, fingerprints and facial image, date and place of entry and exit, and refusals of entry (European Commission).
On first entry, passport, photo and fingerprints are taken; later crossings need only a quick verification. Some countries use self-service kiosks.
Data is kept for 3 years, or 5 if the traveller overstays (EUR-Lex summary).
It calculates the authorised stay and flags overstays. Travellers can check their remaining days through a web service (Article 13 of Regulation 2017/2226).

The 90 days in 180 rule

Both EES and ETIAS concern short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Since the EES calculates the stay automatically, a guest who strings long trips together is tracked more closely than with stamps. It is not something the property needs to monitor.

Who is outside the EES

Under Article 2(3) of Regulation 2017/2226, among others:

EU citizens (the system only applies to non-EU nationals).
Family members of EU citizens holding a residence card.
Holders of a residence permit or a long-stay visa.
Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and holders of a Vatican City passport.

ETIAS: who needs it, cost and timing

Nationals of visa-exempt countries travelling for short stays will need it, such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Mexico or Israel (Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806). Holders of residence permits or visas, among others, do not (Article 2 of Regulation 2018/1240).
Fee: EUR 20 per application; free for under-18s and over-70s (Article 18 of Regulation 2018/1240, consolidated text).
Validity: 3 years or until the travel document expires, whichever comes first (Article 36(5)). A new passport means a new application.
Air carriers, sea carriers and coach operators carrying groups will check it before boarding (Article 45).
Start: the Commission sets the date and publishes it in the Official Journal (Article 88). After that there will be 6 months of optional use and a 6-month grace period, both extendable (Article 83).
Date: the Commission (July 2025) and eu-LISA (March 2026) spoke of the last quarter of 2026. We found no official decision with a date: not confirmed. The EU says it will announce the date several months in advance.

What the property has to do (and not do)

No: checking EES, asking for ETIAS, counting the 90 days or taking fingerprints. Neither regulation places obligations on accommodation providers, and we found no official source asking them to.
Yes: keep doing your national guest registration. Spain: /spain-guest-registration-ses-hospedajes-2026. Italy: /italy-alloggiati-web-guest-reporting-2026. Portugal: /portugal-foreign-guest-reporting-siba-2026. Greece: /greece-digital-client-register-hotels-2026.
Yes, as a service: in your pre-arrival information, tell non-EU guests that their first entry involves biometric registration and there may be queues, so they do not plan a tight transfer or check-in. You can add it to your guest information: /guest-information-house-manual-emergency-numbers-2026.
Yes: tell them ETIAS is applied for only on the official website (europa.eu domain) and that there is nothing to apply for until the EU announces the date.
No: giving immigration advice. Point to the official pages.

Watch out for fake ETIAS websites

The European External Action Service warns that many websites falsely present themselves as official ETIAS sites, sometimes with the EU logo, collect personal data or charge extra fees. Official EU websites use the europa.eu domain. If a guest asks, do not send them to an intermediary: point them to the official EU site.

How iQuota helps

We make your property available to AI assistants through a connector, with direct booking, payment at the property and 0% commission. Your guest information (times, arrival, notices) can also reach travellers that way. Nobody can guarantee that an AI will recommend you.

Want an official booking page AI can read and a connector with your real prices, commission-free? The first 30 hotels join free until 30 June 2027.

See the Founding Hotels programme

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to check whether my guest has ETIAS or is registered in the EES?

No. Checks are done by border authorities and, for ETIAS, by carriers (Article 45 of Regulation 2018/1240). You continue with your national guest registration.

Since when has the EES been running?

Progressively since 12 October 2025 and fully since 10 April 2026 (Regulation 2017/2226; European Commission).

When does ETIAS start and how much does it cost?

The Commission expected it in the last quarter of 2026, but as of 10 November 2026 we found no official date (not confirmed). It will cost EUR 20 and be valid for 3 years or until the passport expires.

Sources

More guides for hotels

More guides for hotels →

Español · Italiano · Português · Ελληνικά