Last checked: November 14, 2026. Every fact on this page comes from the official sources listed at the bottom.
Not legal advice. This page is a plain-language summary of official rules for general information. Rules change and individual situations differ. Always confirm with the official source linked below before you travel.
| System | Who it is for | Status (Nov 14, 2026) | Cost | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESTA (United States) | Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries coming to the US. Not for US citizens. | In operation. You need an e-Passport (with a chip) to use the Visa Waiver Program. | $40, since September 30, 2025 ($10 processing plus $30 if approved) | esta.cbp.dhs.gov |
| EES (Europe) | Non-EU nationals on short stays (up to 90 days in any 180 days), including US citizens | Launched October 12, 2025; fully operational since April 10, 2026 at all external borders of 29 European countries. It replaces passport stamps. Cyprus and Ireland still stamp passports. | No fee | travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees |
| ETIAS (Europe) | Visa-exempt travelers, such as US citizens, visiting 30 European countries | Not in operation. No applications are collected yet. The EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch. | EUR 20 (when it launches) | travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias |
| eTA (Canada) | Visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to or through Canada. US citizens do not need one. | In operation | CAN$7 | canada.ca (eTA page) |
What this means for US travelers
- Europe: expect your face and/or fingerprints to be registered at your first EES border check. ETIAS is not needed yet. Any website selling an ETIAS today is not selling the real thing.
- Canada: US citizens do not need an eTA. Dual Canadian citizens need a Canadian passport, not an eTA.
- Visitors to the US: apply for ESTA only on the official site. CBP warns that third-party sites charge extra, and it cannot refund money paid to them.
How EES works
At your first crossing into the Schengen area, border staff record your passport details, your facial image and/or fingerprints, and the date and place of entry. Later crossings only need a quick check.
Official sources
- CBP: Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
- Federal Register, Aug 28, 2025: CBP Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 (ESTA $40 from Sep 30, 2025)
- US Embassy and Consulates in the UK: CBP ESTA fee breakdown
- European Union: ETIAS official site
- European Union: Travel to Europe leaflet (EES)
- European Commission, Apr 10, 2026: Entry/Exit System is fully operational
- Government of Canada: Electronic travel authorization (eTA)
Planning a trip around these rules?
A custom guide puts the deadlines that matter for your dates into one "book first" list.
Order a custom guide