EES System Launched
The previously announced EU ENTRY/EXIT SYSTEM (EES) - an automated border system that registers travelers who are not EU citizens every time they enter or exit participating European countries was fully launched on April 10, 2026. The aim of the system is to replace manual passport stamping with digital records, enhancing border security and enabling tracking of short-term stays. Exceeding the permitted duration of stay is automatically recorded and may result in fines, re-entry bans, or other sanctions.
The EES is used in 29 European countries, including all Schengen zone countries, as well as Bulgaria and Romania. Cyprus and Ireland do not participate in the system and continue to use manual passport stamping.
The EES program applies to citizens of non-EU countries traveling for short stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period), including:
-
Travelers who require a visa and use a short-stay Schengen visa
-
Travelers who do not require a visa (e.g., citizens of the United Kingdom, the USA, Japan)
The EES program does not apply to EU citizens, holders of residence permits or long-term visas, as well as citizens of certain microstates (Andorra and Monaco).
During border control, the EES program registers:
-
Passport information (name, date of birth, document validity). Note that biometric passports are required for using automated border points.
-
Date and place of entry and exit
-
Facial image and fingerprints
-
Any entry refusals
Border service officials retain the full right to grant or deny entry.
At the time of the system's introduction, it was expected that the automated border control process would take about 1-2 minutes per traveler. However, in practice, airports are adapting to the new system more slowly:
-
Waiting times in queues can be several hours, and passengers are frequently missing flights (according to EasyJet, on one flight, 122 out of 156 passengers failed to pass through control in time).
-
Terminals are not operating at full capacity (for example, only 1 terminal is functioning out of 17 at Milan Airport).
-
Travelers are requested to resubmit the biometric data even if it is already in the system.