From October 2025, the way travellers enter Europe will change. If you are coming to Vienna from the UK, the US, or any other non-EU country, you will no longer receive a stamp in your passport at the airport. Instead, your arrival will be registered digitally. This is part of the Entry/Exit System (EES), one of the biggest border reforms recently, and it will be followed by ETIAS, a new online travel authorisation.
What is changing at Vienna Airport?
Starting on 12 October 2025, Vienna International Airport (Schwechat) and Salzburg Airport will begin using digital border controls. During a six-month pilot phase, travellers from outside the EU and Schengen area – so-called third-country nationals – will have their fingerprints and facial image taken on arrival. These biometric records replace the traditional passport stamp. By 10 April 2026, the system is expected to be in full use at all external Schengen borders.
For EU citizens, nothing changes. The EES only applies to non-EU visitors coming for short stays of up to 90 days within 180 days. Travellers from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are also exempt.
Why is the EU introducing the EES?
The move to digital border checks is not only about efficiency. The system is designed to make it harder to overstay the permitted 90 days, to prevent fake identities, and to reduce abuse of visa-free travel. Each border crossing leaves a secure digital record, accessible to border and law enforcement authorities.
Supporters see it as a step forward in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. For travellers, the promise is faster controls, more self-service options, and eventually less time spent queuing at airports like Vienna.
What about ETIAS?
Alongside the EES, the EU is preparing to launch ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. ETIAS is not a visa, but an online authorisation that citizens of visa-exempt countries will need to apply for before travelling. That includes visitors from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many more.
The application will be simple: fill out a short online form, pay a small fee (around € 7 for most adults), and receive approval, often within minutes. Once granted, the authorisation is valid for three years or until your passport expires. ETIAS is currently expected to become mandatory in late 2026.
What this means for travellers to Vienna
For British travellers, this marks a clear shift from the pre-Brexit years. From October 2025, you will go through the EES at Vienna Airport, and once ETIAS is active, you will also need to apply online before boarding your flight. The same applies to Americans, Australians, and other visa-free visitors.
If you already require a Schengen visa, nothing changes: the visa rules remain the same, and ETIAS does not apply.
Arriving in Vienna under the new system
Here is how your arrival in 2026 might look: instead of queuing for a passport stamp, you head to a self-service gate at Vienna International Airport. The machine scans your passport, takes a quick photo, and checks your fingerprints against the system. A border officer may still verify your details, but the process is largely automated. With ETIAS, you will have already registered online before leaving home.
The transition may feel slow at first. During the pilot phase in late 2025 and early 2026, travellers should expect longer queues as staff and systems adjust. But once fully established, the system is expected to make entry faster and more reliable.
Preparing for your trip
If you are travelling to Vienna after October 2025, make sure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned stay. Be prepared for fingerprint and photo registration at the airport. Once ETIAS is live, apply in advance and carry a digital copy of your approval.
Most importantly, do not let the acronyms put you off. The systems are part of a global trend – the US has ESTA, Canada has eTA, and Australia has ETA. Europe is simply catching up. With a little preparation, your Vienna trip will remain as smooth as ever.
The bottom line
The EES goes live on 12 October 2025, with full rollout by April 2026. ETIAS will follow later in 2026. Together, they mark one of the biggest changes to European border controls in decades. For travellers, the shift is less about barriers and more about modernisation.
So if Vienna is on your list, do not be alarmed. Pack your passport, keep an eye on the new requirements, and you will still be strolling along the Ringstrasse, sipping coffee at Café Central, and exploring Schönbrunn Palace without missing a beat – only now with a digital record of your arrival.