# EES and ETIAS: new EU border systems – what they mean for you EU has new border systems: EES is live, ETIAS arrives in 2026. If you have a residence permit, you skip both. But family visiting you may need ETIAS or a visa. Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/ees-etias-grensekontroll-reise-2026 Language: en Publisher: SamfunnPrep Author: Hlib Suslov Published: 2026-07-22T13:32:43.229+00:00 Modified: 2026-09-24T12:15:42.478202+00:00 AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt ## Key takeaways - EES is now live The entry and exit system EES has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 and registers visitors with fingerprints and facial image. - ETIAS expected in 2026 ETIAS is expected in the final quarter of 2026, costs 20 euro, and applies to travelers from visa-exempt countries outside the EU. - Living here, you are exempt With a residence permit in Norway you will not be registered in EES and do not need ETIAS; however, visiting family may need it. EES and ETIAS are two new EU systems for border control. The good news if you live in Norway with a residence permit: you will not be registered in EES and do not need ETIAS. But family who want to visit you may need it. Here is what applies, as of 22 July 2026. ## What is EES? EES (Entry/Exit System, the entry and exit system) is a digital system that registers travelers from countries outside the EU/EEA each time they cross the Schengen border for a **short stay**. The system replaces the old passport stamp with a digital registration of **fingerprints and facial image**, name, and entry and exit date. Children under 12 years old do not need to provide fingerprints. EES started on 12 October 2025 and has been **fully operational since 10 April 2026**. The system automatically counts how long you have been in Schengen, based on the rule of **90 days in any 180 days**. ## What is ETIAS, and when is it coming? ETIAS is a **travel permission**, not a visa. It is intended for travelers from **visa-exempt** countries outside the EU who want to make short visits. You apply online before you travel. ETIAS is **not yet in operation**. It is **expected that ETIAS will start in the final quarter of 2026**, but the exact date has not been set and could be delayed. The permission will cost **20 euro**. Travelers **under 18 years old and over 70 years old** do not have to pay the fee. ## Do you have a residence permit? Then you are exempt If you live in Norway with a **residence permit or residence card**, you will **not be registered in EES**, and you do **not need ETIAS**. Both systems apply to visitors on short stays, not to you living here. The same applies to Norwegian citizens. You will be controlled at the border as before, but without new registration. If you want to know more about traveling with a Norwegian residence permit, read [how long you can stay outside Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/reise-utenfor-norge-oppholdstillatelse). ## Family visiting: what they need For many people, the most important question is what the rules mean for family coming to visit. It depends on which country they are traveling from: - **From a visa-exempt country** (for example USA, United Kingdom, Canada): Today they only need their passport. When ETIAS starts (expected in late 2026), they must apply for **ETIAS (20 euro)** before they travel. - **From a visa-required country:** They still need a **Schengen visa (visitor visa)** as before. ETIAS does not replace the visa. See how to [invite family on a visitor visa](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/besoksvisum-norge-invitere-familie). ## Why does this apply in Norway? Norway is not a member of the EU, but participates in the **Schengen cooperation**. Therefore EES and ETIAS also apply at Norwegian borders, such as Oslo airport. Read more about [Norway's relationship with the EU and EEA](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/norge-og-eu-eos). If you travel on a Norwegian travel document, you can also read about [travel documents and alien passports](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/reisebevis-utlendingspass-norge). ## What should you do now? - **Check that your residence card is valid** when you travel – it is the proof that you are exempt. - **Tell family in visa-exempt countries** about ETIAS, so they apply in good time before they travel in late 2026. - **Family in visa-required countries** should apply for a visitor visa in good time, as before. On SamfunnPrep you will find more [guides about residence and travel](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) for you who are new to Norway. We will update this article when the EU sets the final date for ETIAS. ## FAQ ### Do I need ETIAS when I have a residence permit in Norway? No. If you have a residence permit or residence card in Norway, you do not need ETIAS, and you will not be registered in EES. Both systems apply to visitors on short stays, not to you living here. ### When does ETIAS start? ETIAS is not yet in operation. It is expected that the system will start in the final quarter of 2026, but the exact date has not been set and could be delayed. ### How much does ETIAS cost? ETIAS will cost 20 euro. Travelers under 18 years old and over 70 years old do not have to pay the fee, but must still apply for permission. ### What does my family need to do to visit me? If they are coming from a visa-exempt country, they will need ETIAS when the system starts in late 2026. If they are coming from a visa-required country, they still need a Schengen visa (visitor visa) as before. ### What is the difference between EES and ETIAS? EES registers entry and exit with fingerprints and facial image at the border and is already in operation. ETIAS is a travel permission you apply for in advance, and it has not yet started. ## Sources - [Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/entryexit-system-ees-fully-operational-2026-04-10_en) - [Entry/Exit System (EES) — policy overview](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/smart-borders/entry-exit-system_en) - [European travel authorisation (ETIAS) will cost EUR 20](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/european-travel-authorisation-etias-will-cost-eur-20-2025-07-17_en) - [ETIAS — reisetillatelse til Schengen](https://www.politiet.no/rad/grensepassering/etias) - [Entry/Exit System (EES) — inn- og utreisesystemet](https://www.politiet.no/rad/grensepassering/entry-exit) - [EES: the new European border Entry/Exit System goes live on 10 April 2026](https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/services-to-foreigners/visiting-france/ees-the-new-european-border-entryexit-system-goes-live-on-10-april-2026) Citation: Hlib Suslov, "EES and ETIAS: new EU border systems – what they mean for you", SamfunnPrep, 2026-07-22T13:32:43.229+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/ees-etias-grensekontroll-reise-2026