Entry/Exit System
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The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a system of the European Union (EU) for the automatic electronic monitoring and recording of border crossings of third-country nationals (non-EU/EFTA citizens) at all border crossings of the Schengen Area. The system, operated by eu-LISA, became operational at all Schengen Area border checkpoints on 10 April 2026, at which point passport stamps were discontinued for entries to and exits from the Schengen Area.
The system stores information including name, date of birth, fingerprints and biometrics for facial recognition, and locations and times of border crossings in a database of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
Exemptions
The Entry/Exit system does not apply to the following classes of individuals:
- Citizens of the following countries and regions (dual citizens require a valid passport or national identity card): European Union (EU passport or national identity card) EFTA (EFTA passport or national identity card) Andorra (Andorran passport or national identity card) San Marino (San Marino passport or national identity card) Monaco (Monegasque passport or national identity card) Holy See (Vatican passport or national identity card)
- Foreign citizens holding a: Residence permit or a residence card issued by an EU or Schengen country (including British beneficiaries of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement) Long-stay schengen visa Valid local border traffic permit
Border process
The first time a traveler passes through the new EES system, they will need to provide a few personal details. A passport officer will take a picture of the individual’s face and/or scan their fingerprints. In some cases, travelers have the ability to register this information in advance, through a self-service system at specific border entry points, or through a mobile application called Travel to Europe, if it is available for your country of arrival/departure.
After a traveler has passed through EES for the first time and their data has been recorded, an agent will simply verify their identity for all subsequent entries. At some border crossing points, self-service kiosks will be available for those who have already passed through EES less than three years ago and hold biometric passports.
European Union Regulations
- Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2017 establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes, and amending the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement and Regulations (EC) No 767/2008 and (EU) No 1077/2011 (OJ L 327, 9 December 2017, p. 20).
- Regulation (EU) 2017/2225 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2017 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the use of the Entry/Exit System (OJ L 327, 9 December 2017, p. 1).
See also
- United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT)
- European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
- J-BIS (Japan)
External links
- via Europa