New EU enrty rules for short-term stays
Starting November 10, 2024, new regulations for entering EU countries will come into effect. The European Commission has confirmed the implementation of EES (Entry Exit System) and ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) – an automated IT systems designed for the registration and monitoring of personal data for non-EU citizens crossing the external borders of the Schengen Area.
EES is a new automated system for collecting personal data from third-country nationals entering the EU, regardless of visa requirements. It will be used for both entry and exit from the Schengen Area. Practically, EES will replace the existing manual stamping of third-country passports, enabling electronic monitoring of each entry and exit, refusal of entry, and duration of stay for non-EU citizens crossing Schengen’s external borders for short-term stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period).
Personal data collected by EES will include:
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Time and date of entry and exit
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Place of entry and exit
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Traveler's full name
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Traveler's passport number
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Traveler’s photo
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Traveler’s fingerprints
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Any short-term entry refusal decisions
!Please note that refusal to provide biometric data may result in a ban on entry to the EU area.
A biometric passport is required to use EES. However, the European Commission has clarified that if a traveler has a valid travel document and a Schengen visa, and meets all requirements of the Schengen Border Code, a biometric passport is not mandatory. Nonetheless, the system is designed for biometric passports, and we recommend obtaining one to account for future changes and unforeseen situations.
ETIAS is a travel authorization, rather than a visa, introduced by the European Commission and expected to be in place by 2025. It is a fully automated system similar to ESTA in the U.S., aimed at enhancing control over travelers entering the EU to detect potential threats.
ETIAS is intended for citizens of 60 non-EU countries who were previously exempt from short-term stay visa requirements for the Schengen Area.
ETIAS permits travel for up to 90 days and must be requested by the relevant third-country citizens before traveling to Europe. It will be valid for multiple entries over a period of 3 years or until the expiration of the travel document used at the time of application.