Last month, European countries began the rollout of the Automated Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU nationals, including Canadians, travelling in the Schengen area for short stays. The EES replaces manual passport stamping, utilizing self-serve kiosks and collecting biometric data to streamline border crossings and track overstays. While the EES is free, a future system called ETIAS, requiring an online permit application, will cost 20 euros and is expected to begin in late 2026.
