Actions
As of 9 January 2026, eu-LISA makes the Carrier Interface available to carriers, supporting their preparation for obligations under the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), and, in due course, the ETIAS system.
The Carrier Interface enables carriers to carry out required pre-departure checks linked to EES and supports the gradual integration of carriers into the EU’s digital border-management framework.
Digital interface enabling pre-departure verification by carriers
The Carrier Interface allows carriers to verify, before departure, whether third-country nationals travelling with a short-stay visa have already used the number of entries authorised by their visa.
The interface provides only the information necessary for this verification and does not give access to personal data or travel history. It supports carriers in applying the correct procedures during check-in and boarding.
Carrier obligations applying from April 2026
From 10 April 2026, following the completion of the progressive start of the Entry/Exit System, air, sea and international coach operators will be required under EU law to carry out these verifications before transporting passengers to the Schengen area.
The availability of the Carrier Interface supports carriers in preparing for this obligation and integrating the required checks into their operational processes.
Multiple access channels supporting different carrier needs
The Carrier Interface is made available through several access channels to accommodate different operational and technical environments:
- a system-to-system interface for automated integration,
- a web portal, and
- a mobile application available for iOS and Android.
This approach ensures that carriers of varying sizes and capacities can use the interface effectively.
Voluntary use encouraged from January 2026
While the Carrier Interface becomes available on 9 January 2026, its use is not yet mandatory at that stage.
Carriers are encouraged to begin using the interface from that date in order to familiarise themselves with the system, complete staff training for the web portal and mobile application, and progressively scale up operational use ahead of the mandatory phase.
Onboarding and guidance provided through the Carrier Onboarding and Support Tool
In parallel, carriers are supported through the Carrier Onboarding and Support Tool (COBST), which serves as the main communication and information platform between eu-LISA, Frontex and the carrier community.
COBST provides access to operational guidance, technical documentations, supporting materials and a multilingual EES/ETIAS FAQ, prepared by Frontex and updated to reflect the progressive start of EES and revised travel scenarios.
Progressive roll-out of the Entry/Exit System across the Schengen area
The Entry/Exit System entered its progressive start on 12 October 2025 and is being rolled out gradually across the Schengen area.
Member States may take up to 180 days to deploy the system at all air, sea and land external border-crossing points. During this period, passport stamping continues at border locations where EES has not yet been activated.
Supporting secure and efficient European border management
The Entry/Exit System digitally records the entry and exit of third-country nationals travelling for short stays to the Schengen area, replacing the manual stamping of passports.
By supporting carrier readiness and compliance, the Carrier Interface contributes to secure border management, legal certainty and smoother travel flows across Europe.
eu-LISA continues to provide the operational and technical support needed to ensure the effective implementation of the Entry/Exit System.
