The EES, which became operational in October 2025, and the ETIAS, which is expected to be rolled out at the end of 2026, will change procedures for non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area. What does it involve? What is the impact of these new systems? What is their scope of application?
In this newsletter, the Expat Welcome Desk provides an overview of recent changes and implications for any future trips you make, so you can anticipate and prepare your travel in 2026.
The European Entry and Exit System became operational on 25 October 2025.
This automated IT system makes it easier to monitor compliance by travellers with the restrictions applicable to short-term stays, such as the 90-day limit within any 180-day period. The aim was to gradually phase out the manual passport stamping system in favour of a fully digital, automated system that registers visitors travelling to and from the European Union (EU) each time they enter and exit the EU.
• Travellers who do not need a visa for a short stay. On the official website of the Immigration Office, you will find a list of countries whose nationals are exempt from holding a visa for any stay of less than 90 days in Belgium.
• Non-European residents of Belgium holding a residence permit (the EES will be applied when entering/exiting the Schengen Area).
• Holders of short-stay visas.
Some travellers are exempt from the EES. Additional information is available on the official website.
Each time a traveller from a non-EU country crosses an external border of the Schengen Area for a short-term stay (max. 90 days out of 180), the following information is automatically recorded in the EES:
• Biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images)
• Travel document (passport) data
• The date and place of entry and exit
• Information on any refusals of entry.
Since the EES came into force, every entry and exit (outside the Schengen Area) is recorded electronically, making your travel history more transparent and reducing the risk of overstays or administrative errors.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for travel within the Schengen Area will, in principle, come into effect in the last quarter of 2026.
This electronic system checks the entry into the Schengen Area of visa-exempt travellers from several countries. It performs in-depth security checks to determine whether a person is authorised to enter the Schengen Area.
To obtain an ETIAS travel authorisation, travellers will need to complete an online application and provide some information, including their passport details. They must also pay a fee.
PLEASE NOTE! This travel authorisation does not replace a visa; it is an additional requirement (comparable to the American ESTA).
The system pre-screens travellers against:
• Security databases
• Potential public health and migration risks
• Exit/entry systems (EES)
Only travellers from countries whose nationals are exempt from holding a visa will need to apply for an ETIAS authorisation before travelling to any Schengen country, including Belgium.
Some travellers are exempt from the ETIAS. Additional information is available on the official website.
You can apply online. You will need:
• A valid passport
• Basic personal information
• Information about your intended travel
• Payment of an application fee (around €20). Some applicants are exempt from this payment. To find out more, go to the section “What you need to apply” and “Exemptions and specific cases”.
Please note: specific requirements apply to travel documents issued by some countries and special administrative regions, entities and territorial authorities that are not recognised as states by at least one European country requiring ETIAS.
Your ETIAS authorisation is valid for up to three years or until your passport expires (depending on current information).
Expats in Brussels from visa-exempt countries will need an ETIAS to re-enter the Schengen Area after travelling outside it, unless they also hold an EU passport.
• Your ETIAS authorisation is linked to your passport, not your residence permit.
• If your passport expires, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS authorisation.
• Always carry your residence permit: the ETIAS authorisation does not replace your right to reside in Belgium.
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