The European Union has been working for some years to implement new entry initiatives for travelers visiting the Schengen Area, including the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) and the soon to be in effect Entry/Exit System (EES).
Table of Contents
What is the EES?
Europe’s new digital border system, the Entry/Exit System or EES, will be gradually introduced this fall.
The EES is a monitoring system that collects information and will register all non-European Union travelers entering 29 European countries for a short stay (up to 90 days within any 180-day period).
“The primary purpose of the EES is to monitor every movement within Schengen borders.” – ETIAS.org
The EES is not a document or a visa, it is a system that monitors people moving into and within the Schengen area. ETIAS.org states that “the entry-exit system ensures a proper record of the eligible citizens of third countries entering Europe.”
The EES will replace traditional passport stamping in most cases. According to ETIAS.org, it is “a secure process that records biometric data, entry dates, and exit dates, making border checks more accurate and efficient for travelers.”
Passengers don’t need to do anything before arriving at the border, and there is no cost involved for travelers.
How is the EES different than the ETIAS
In the travel industry, we’ve been discussing the implementation of the ETIAS for a long time. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is a visa waiver program that will require visitors traveling to any of the Schengen Area countries that currently don’t require a visa to apply for an ETIAS, similar to the UK’s ETA. It was supposed to launch in 2022 but has been delayed and is now set to launch in the last quarter of 2026.
The ETIAS is a visa waiver documentation that you will apply for and will be attached to your passport. EES is an entry process that you pass through when traveling to Schengen area countries.
How does the EES work?
Your biometric data, including your fingerprints and a photo of your face, will be collected when you arrive in a Schengen country. If you already have a biometric passport you may be able to use a kiosk for your entry, or you may give biometric information to a border agent.
When does the EES take effect?
Implementation of the EES will begin on October 12, 2025 and will roll out to all participating European countries gradually. Full implementation is expected by April 10, 2026.
Estonia and Luxembourg will be the first two countries to have the EES system up and running on October 12th, with other European countries following over the next several months.
What do you need to do to comply with the new EES process?
People who live outside of Schengen area countries will have to register biometric information while having their passport scanned the first time they cross the border into the Schengen area.
Flight passengers will register when they arrive at their destination airport. If you are crossing into Europe from the UK by ferry or the Eurotunnel you will complete the process as you depart.
As of now, you don’t need to do anything before your trip to prepare other than making sure your passport is valid and the expiration date meets the requirements of the country you will be visiting. There is a 3rd party app that has been developed to streamline the EES process, however it does not seem to be widely available as of now.
Which countries will have the EES?
The 29 countries that make up the Schengen area are participating in the EES 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
What else should I know about the EES?
It is always good to be aware of anything that could affect your transit time or you entry into the country you are visiting. The ETIAS website says that the idea behind the EES protocol is to smooth entry process into Schengen area countries, but the reality is, this may slow down the entry process, if additional staff is needed or if kiosks are being used and there aren’t enough or they aren’t working as planned. However, it is too soon to know how disruptive the implementation may be for travelers entering Europe, if at all.
For more information about the EES or ETIAS you can visit etias.org or travel-europe.europa.eu. It is always a good idea to read through your own country’s information page for any destination you plan to travel to. U.S. travelers heading to Europe can check the U.S. State Department page for travel to Europe for updated information.
Keep reading…
Shoulder Season Is the Number 1 Travel Industry Secret You Should Try
How to Visit the Colosseum in Rome: Everything You Need to Know to Visit Italy’s World Wonder
Leave a Reply