The European Union is preparing for a major transformation in its border security system with the phased implementation of the Electronic Entry-Exit System (EES).
EU interior ministers have approved a six-month transition period, allowing member states to gradually introduce biometric border controls for non-EU travelers.
What is Electronic Entry-Exit System (EES)?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any of the following European countries using the system:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
For the purpose of the EES, ‘non-EU national’ means a traveler not holding the nationality of any European Union country or the nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.
Under this new system, passport details, fingerprints, and facial scans of non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area for short-term stays will be digitally recorded.
‘Short stay’ means up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES.
The goal is to streamline entry procedures while enhancing border security and preventing irregular migration.
A Phased Rollout for Smooth Implementation
The transition to the EES will not happen overnight. According to the plan, EU countries will have the flexibility to introduce the system in stages over six months.
For the first 60 days, member states can operate the new system without biometric verification. However, after three months, at least half of all border crossings must be equipped with biometric technology. By the end of the transition period, all manual passport stamping will be phased out, and all border data will be processed electronically.
While no official start date has been set, the European Commission is expected to announce it after the European Parliament finalizes the regulation.
Why the Delay?
Originally scheduled to launch on November 10, 2024, the EES has faced multiple delays due to technical and infrastructure challenges across EU member states.
Many countries have struggled to upgrade border facilities to accommodate the biometric verification system, leading to repeated postponements.
However, with the latest approval from EU ministers, the system is now set to move forward in a controlled, step-by-step manner to ensure a smooth transition.
What It Means for Non-EU Travelers
For non-EU travelers, the biggest change will be the end of passport stamping. Instead, all travel records will be digitally stored in the EES. This means that border officials will have real-time access to visitor data, making it easier to track entry and exit records across the Schengen Zone.
Here’s what non-EU travelers should expect once the system is fully in place:
- Biometric Scans Required: Visitors will need to provide fingerprints and facial scans upon entering the EU.
- Faster Border Processing: Digital records aim to speed up border checks, reducing long queues at entry points.
- Stricter Overstay Tracking: The system will automatically calculate how long visitors stay in the Schengen Zone, making it easier for authorities to enforce visa rules.
- Paperless Entry: The traditional passport stamp will be replaced by an electronic record, making border crossings more efficient.
In Cyprus and Ireland, despite being countries of the European Union, passports will still be stamped manually.
A Step Towards a More Secure and Efficient Border System
EU officials believe that the EES will enhance border security while improving the travel experience for legitimate visitors. Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, who chaired the recent EU Council meeting, welcomed the decision, emphasizing that the system is an important step toward protecting the EU’s external borders.
Although some EU countries may choose to implement the system in full from day one, the six-month transition will allow others to gradually integrate biometric border controls at their own pace.
For non-EU travelers, this means that border entry procedures may vary depending on the country of arrival, at least during the initial rollout phase.
Who Is Exempt from the EES?
Not all travelers will be affected by the new system. The EES does not apply to the following categories of people:
- Nationals of the European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland.
- Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national.
- Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen.
- Non-EU nationals traveling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes, educational projects, or au-pairing.
- Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas.
- Nationals of Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino, and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See.
- People exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (such as heads of state, cross-border workers, etc.).
- People not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours.
- People holding a valid local border traffic permit.
- Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys.
- People holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State.
What’s Next?
The European Commission will now set an official launch date for the EES, pending final approval from the European Parliament. Once confirmed, travelers can expect a wave of changes at Schengen border crossings, as biometric verification becomes the new norm for entry into the EU.
Non-EU visitors planning trips to Europe in the coming years should stay updated on these developments, as digital border checks are set to redefine the travel experience across the region.
