- eu-LISA said important progress continued on ETIAS and Eurodac after EES reached full operation.
- Eurodac is on track for June twelfth, twenty twenty-six after new releases and technical specifications were delivered.
- ETIAS remains not in operation, and the EU has not yet announced a launch date.
eu-LISA, the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, pushed ahead with ETIAS and Eurodac after the Entry/Exit System reached full operation. Its 2025 Year in Review and annual activity report said the agency had made “important progress” on the new border files. The work kept moving.
The review said the rebuilt Eurodac had advanced through central system releases, the web user interface, and technical specifications for Member States. It put the system on track to enter operation in 2026. The file stayed active.
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The travel authorization remained out of operation, and no applications were being collected. The EU said the specific start date will be announced several months before launch. Not yet.
EES began a phased rollout, then moved to full operation. Biometric functions now run at every external border crossing point. Wide rollout.
The three systems serve different jobs inside the same border chain. EES records entries and exits at the border, while the authorization is a pre-travel check for visa-exempt travelers. Eurodac sits on the migration side. Separate jobs.
When the authorization opens, it is expected to carry a €20 fee. It would stay valid for up to three years or until the passport expires. The bill comes later.
The three systems are at different stages
| System | Latest public status | Timing and key detail |
|---|---|---|
| EES | Full operation across the external border, with biometric functions at every external border crossing point of the 29 participating countries | Phased rollout began October 12, 2025; full operation reached April 10, 2026 |
| ETIAS | Not in operation; no applications are being collected | Start date to be announced several months before launch; expected €20 fee |
| Eurodac | Central system releases, the web user interface, and technical specifications for Member States delivered | On track to enter operation by June 12, 2026 |
The agency is still doing the technical build-out and integration work needed before launch. That work sits behind the public timetable. It remains behind the scenes.
The EU said the specific start date will be announced several months before launch. Until then, the authorization stays pending. The notice comes later.
