A Modern, More Efficient Border Management System for Europe

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is Europe’s new border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries.

The EES was progressively launched on 12 October 2025 at the external borders of the European countries using the system and is fully operational since 10 April 2026.

Fully automated and digital, the EES replaces passport stamping throughout most of Europe.

Which European countries use the EES?

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

In Cyprus and Ireland, passports will continue to be stamped manually.

Who will be registered in the EES?

Non-EU nationals travelling to the European countries using the EES for a short stay (up to 90 days within a 180-day period), regardless of whether they need a short-stay visa or they are visa-free travellers. Certain travellers are exempt from registration (see ‘Exemptions’).

The EES does not introduce any new requirements for people able to freely move throughout Europe (see ‘Exemptions’).

Which data are collected by the EES?

• Personal data from the travel document, such as full name, date of birth, nationality
• Date and place of each entry to and exit from the European countries using the EES;
• Biometric data such as facial image and/or fingerprints;
• Information on refused entry, if applicable.

Check how long you can stay

You can check the number of days you are still allowed to stay on the territory of European countries using the EES via the EES online tool available at https://travel-europe.europa.eu or at some external border crossing points.

Why is the EES being introduced?

The EES modernises border checks and gradually reduces waiting times at the borders.

The EES easily identifies non-EU nationals who do not fulfil the conditions of entry and stay or those who stay longer than permitted in the Schengen area.

The EES enhances the security of Europe’s borders.

Privacy

Travellers’ data will be collected and stored in full compliance with EU data protection rules and rights. For more information on data
protection and how you can exercise your rights in this respect, including the right to request access to or rectify data relating to you, visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/data-held-by-ees.

Who can access travellers’ data?

• Border, visa and immigration authorities in the European countries using the EES;
• Law enforcement authorities in the European countries using the EES and Europol;
• Under strict conditions, travellers’ data may be transferred to another country inside or outside the EU or to an International Organisation;
• Transport carriers – only to verify whether short-stay visa holders have already used the number of entries authorised by their visa.

National Facilitation Programmes

European countries using the EES may put in place National Facilitation Programmes to ease border crossings for non-EU nationals who frequently travel to Europe. These programmes may apply in one or several European countries. To find out whether you are eligible to benefit from a National Facilitation Programme, visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu.

Exemptions

The EES will not apply to*:

• Nationals of 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 (and their family members) travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer
• Non-EU nationals (where applicable, their family members) travelling to Europe for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing
• Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
• Nationals of Andorra, Monaco, 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, crossborder workers, etc.)
• Those holding a valid local border traffic permit
• Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys

*The list is not exhaustive.

To learn more about the grounds for an exemption from the EES, visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees