Practical info5 April 20266 min read

EES and ETIAS 2026 — what it means for caravanners travelling in Europe

The new EES (entry/exit system) and ETIAS (for non-EU citizens) are coming into force. What does it mean for caravanners travelling in Europe?

Changes at EU borders — what to know before you travel

If you are planning motorhome travel in 2026 and are crossing into or within the Schengen Area, there are new systems you should know about. Good news: for most Slovak caravanners little has changed. Less good news: for visitors from countries outside the EU — British, Americans, Canadians — quite a lot has changed.

EES — what is it exactly?

**EES (Entry/Exit System)** is a new EU automated system for recording the entries and exits of people from the Schengen Area. It replaces passport stamping — instead, a digital scan of the face and fingerprints takes place when crossing the border.

**Important: EES does NOT apply to EU or Slovak citizens.** As a Slovak citizen (EU member) you have free movement within the Schengen Area. EES is intended exclusively for citizens of non-Schengen countries.

For EU caravanners — the majority of our customers — EES brings no practical change when travelling.

ETIAS — who does it affect and how does it work?

**ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)** is a travel authorisation system for citizens of countries that do not need a visa for the EU but are also not EU members. Similar to the US ESTA or Canada's eTA.

It applies to, for example:

British citizens (post-Brexit)

Americans

Canadians

Australians

And other countries on the ETIAS list

ETIAS details:

Cost: 7 EUR per application

Validity: 3 years or until passport expiry

Permitted stay: 90 days in 180 (same as before)

Application: online, typically processed within 72 hours

Practical impact for caravanners

Caravanners with EU citizenship (including Slovak):

No change. You travel freely within the Schengen Area without any new formalities.

Caravanners from non-EU countries (e.g. UK):

Before each trip to the EU you need a valid ETIAS authorisation. Apply online on the official EU website at least a week before departure. The authorisation is tied to your passport — if you change your passport you need a new ETIAS.

Possible delays at borders

When EES is introduced there may be longer queues at border crossings while the system is rolled out in practice. This applies mainly to:

EU-UK borders (Eurotunnel, Calais)

Entry points into the Schengen Area from non-EU countries

For caravanners travelling within the EU (e.g. SK → AT → IT → HR) — they do not cross controlled Schengen borders, so EES does not affect them at all.