The European Union has introduced a new Entry/Exit System (EES) designed to electronically record the entry and exit of specific non-EU travelers at external borders of participating European countries. The implementation of this system is expected to be fully operational by 10 April 2026.
Who is affected?
The EES applies to travelers who:
- Are not citizens of an EU Member State, and
- Do not hold nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, and
- Are traveling for a short stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across participating countries.
What is the purpose of the EES?
The EES is designed to modernize border management by:
- Digitally recording entries and exits
- Improving identity verification using biometric data
- Helping authorities detect overstays and misuse of visa free travel
- Supporting more efficient border processing over time
What information is collected?
When crossing an external border where EES is in use, travelers may be required to provide:
- Biographic information from travel documents (e.g., name, date of birth)
- Entry and exit dates and locations
- A facial image and fingerprints
- Information relating to any refusal of entry, if applicable
Travelers holding a short-stay Schengen visa will generally already have their fingerprints stored in the Visa Information System (VIS), which may reduce the need for repeat collection.
Practical considerations: Travelers should expect longer border processing times initially, particularly on their first entry after EES implementation. It is recommended to plan travel accordingly and ensure compliance with the 90/180‑day rule.
