EES and ETIAS: what changes for the 90/180 rule
The 90/180 rule itself hasn't changed — what changed is how it's checked. Since 10 April 2026 the Entry/Exit System (EES) records every entry and exit of non-EU travellers digitally instead of stamping passports, and it counts your days automatically. ETIAS, a separate €20 travel authorisation, is not running yet (13 October 2026).
Check your days before the border does: Schengen 90/180 calculator — free, in your browser.
EES: the Entry/Exit System
- When: started on 12 October 2025 with a gradual roll-out in 29 European countries; fully operational since 10 April 2026.
- Who: non-EU citizens coming for a short stay — both visa-free travellers (for example from the US, UK, Canada, Australia or Mexico) and holders of a short-stay visa.
- What it records: your facial image, fingerprints and passport data, each entry and exit, and refusals of entry. It replaces passport stamps.
- What it means for 90/180: the EES includes an automated calculator of the 90-days-in-any-180 limit. Border officers see your remaining days at once — an overstay of even a day is no longer hidden in a passport full of stamps.
The first time you cross after the EES started, your fingerprints and photo are taken, so the first border check can take longer.
ETIAS: the travel authorisation
- What: an online authorisation that visa-free travellers will need before a trip to the Schengen area and several other European countries. It is not a visa.
- Cost: €20; travellers under 18 or over 70 are exempt from the fee.
- Validity: three years, or until your passport expires.
- When: not in operation yet. The EU says it will announce the start date several months in advance.
- Days: ETIAS doesn't give extra days — the 90/180 rule still applies.
Questions
Does the EES change the 90/180 rule?
No. You can still stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The EES only records your entries and exits digitally and calculates the limit for border officers.
Do I need to do anything before travelling because of the EES?
No application is needed. Your biometric data is taken at the border the first time you cross after the EES started.
Will my passport still be stamped?
No. Digital records in the EES replace the stamps.
Do I need ETIAS now?
Not yet — on 13 October 2026 ETIAS isn't in operation and no applications are being taken. Use only the official EU website when it opens: unofficial sites may charge extra.
Does the EES apply to UK citizens?
Yes. Since Brexit, UK citizens are non-EU travellers and are registered in the EES like other visitors.
What happens if the EES shows I overstayed?
Overstays can lead to fines, an entry ban and problems on future trips. Count your days before you travel.
Know your days before the EES does
Daysafe records which country you're in each day and counts the Schengen 90/180 rule for you — with the date you need to leave and a screen to show at the border. No account; your days stay on your phone.
Sources
European Commission, The Entry/Exit System will become fully operational on 10 April 2026 and ETIAS will cost EUR 20; Regulation (EU) 2017/2226, Article 11 — EUR-Lex; Travel to Europe — ETIAS. Checked on 13 October 2026. Made by Denis Chudinov.