What is the Entry/Exit System (EES) and How Does it Work?

Starting in October 2025, the European Union (EU) will replace traditional passport stamps with the new Entry/Exit System (EES), a high-tech solution that records travelers’ movements using biometric data.

Designed to modernize border crossing checks and support the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), this system will impact millions. 

In this guide, we explain what the EES is, how it works, who it applies to, and what every traveler should expect.

What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?

The EES is a new digital solution that will transform how border checks are carried out across the Schengen Area. 

Instead of relying on passport stamps, the system will automatically record when you enter and leave participating member states, creating a more reliable and efficient way to track short-term stays.

Definition of the EES

At its core, the EES is an automated IT system designed to register the movements of non-EU nationals who are traveling for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period).

Each time you cross the external border of a participating country—whether arriving in France, departing from Spain, or traveling through Germany—your entry and exit will be digitally logged.

This centralized approach ensures consistency across the Schengen Area. For you as a traveler, it means that all your movements are recorded in a single system rather than depending on individual stamps in your passport.

Purpose of the EES

The main goal of the EES is to replace manual passport stamping with a modern, secure, and efficient digital record. This shift serves several important purposes:

• It ensures greater accuracy when calculating your stay in the Schengen Area.
• It prevents common issues like missing or unclear stamps in your passport.
• It helps border officials quickly verify compliance with the 90/180-day rule.

In addition, the EES is expected to support border officers in identifying overstays, reduce cases of fraud, and improve the overall flow of travelers across borders.

Timeline of the EES Rollout

The European Union will introduce the EES in two stages to help travelers and border authorities adjust:

• October 12, 2025: The system will officially launch. Data collection and biometric registration will begin at some border crossing points.
• April 10, 2026: The EES will be fully implemented across all external borders of the Schengen Area, marking the end of passport stamping

Countries Using the EES

The EES will apply across almost all Schengen member states, including major travel destinations like Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. Below is a summary table of the participating countries:

For travelers, this means that no matter which of these countries you first enter, your data will be shared and recognized across the entire Schengen Area.

Why is the EES Being Introduced?

The EU is introducing the EES to modernize the way borders are managed across the Schengen Area. 

Instead of relying on outdated passport stamps, the EES uses biometric verification and automated processes to improve border control, strengthen security, and simplify travel for millions of visitors.

Modernizing Border Checks

One of the main reasons for creating the EES is to bring border checks into the digital age.

Until now, officers manually stamped passports, a system prone to delays and errors. With EES, your details—such as entry and exit dates—will be logged automatically, and you may even use dedicated kiosks for faster registration.

This system reduces long queues, improves efficiency for officers, and makes border control less stressful for travelers.

Key improvements include:

• Faster checks through automation and self-service systems.
• Consistency across all participating member states.
• Better tracking of travel history without relying on stamps.

Preventing Overstays and Illegal Migration

Another important reason behind the EES is ensuring that travelers respect the Schengen 90/180-day rule.

Currently, overstays can go undetected if stamps are missed or unclear. The EES eliminates this by digitally tracking your entries and exits, making it much easier for border officers to calculate your permitted stay.

This system is especially useful in countries like Spain or France, where large numbers of short-term visitors arrive every year. With digital records, authorities can:

• Detect travelers who stay longer than allowed.
• Identify irregular migration more effectively.
• Ensure fair treatment by applying rules equally across all borders.

Enhancing Security Across the Schengen Area

The EES also strengthens the EU’s ability to fight crime and protect travelers.

By recording biometric data like fingerprints and facial images, border officials can confirm identities with greater accuracy and prevent fraud. This reduces risks linked to fake passports or stolen identities and helps security agencies combat serious crimes.

Oversight is provided by the European Commission and eu-LISA, the agency responsible for managing large-scale IT systems in justice and security. Their role is to ensure that data is processed responsibly and in compliance with EU privacy laws.

Security benefits include:

• More accurate identification of travelers at border control.
• Easier detection of individuals involved in terrorism or organized crime.
• Safer conditions for EU citizens and non-EU visitors alike.

Who Needs to Register in the EES?

Not every traveler passing through European borders will need to interact with the EES. 

The EES means that specific groups of non-EU nationals—whether they require a visa or not—must provide their personal and biometric data when crossing external Schengen borders. 

Below is a clear breakdown of who must register, what is collected, and who is exempt.

Visa-Required Travelers

If you need a short-stay visa to enter the Schengen Area, your registration in the EES will be based on data already provided during the visa application process. This includes details such as:

• Personal data from your travel document (full name, date of birth, nationality).
• Visa details, including the number of entries authorized.
• A facial image recorded at the border crossing point (fingerprints are already stored in the Visa Information System, so they won’t be duplicated)

In practice, this means the EES will digitally log your entry and exit dates, providing a secure electronic record that strengthens border management.

Visa-Exempt Travelers

If you come from a country that does not require a visa, you will still need to register in the EES when visiting for a short stay. In this case, the system collects additional biometric information:

• Four fingerprints.
• A facial image.

This biometric data helps improve border security by verifying identity and reducing risks of fraud or illegal overstays.

For example, after Brexit, UK citizens fall into this category as third-country nationals when traveling to Schengen states like Spain, France, or Germany.

Key Exemptions

Certain groups are exempt from full registration requirements under the EES. These include:

• Family members of EU citizens (including those from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) when traveling or residing in a member state other than their own nationality.
• Holders of residence cards or residence permits that already grant rights of free movement.
• UK nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement, provided they hold a valid residence document issued under the agreement. Without such documents, they must register like other travelers.
• Travelers under specific facilitation programs or special legal arrangements.

How Does the EES Work at the Border?

The EES changes the way you go through passport control when traveling to EU countries. 

Instead of relying only on manual passport stamps, the process now involves a combination of digital registration, biometric checks, and, during the transition, both systems running side by side.

First-Time Registration Process

When you arrive at a border crossing in any other participating country for the first time after the EES starts, you’ll need to complete your EES registration. This involves:

• Scanning your passport at the border.
• Providing biometric data such as fingerprints and a facial photo.
• Having your information recorded in a secure digital file managed by border authorities.

To make the process faster, you may be able to use self-service kiosks or even mobile apps where available. These tools allow you to pre-register some data before meeting a border officer, reducing wait times significantly.

Subsequent Border Crossings

Once your biometric data is stored in the EES, crossing borders in EU countries becomes quicker. During your next trip, passport officers will only need to verify your details instead of collecting them again.

• Your fingerprints or facial photo will already be in the system.
• Verification usually takes less time than the first registration.
• If you hold a biometric passport, you may be able to use self-service kiosks at certain airports.

This streamlined process makes regular travel—whether for work, study, or holidays—easier and more predictable.

Transition Period

Between October 12, 2025 and April 9, 2026, there will be a transition period where both passport stamps and EES registration will be used together. This allows border officers and travelers to adapt to the new system.

• Your passport will still be stamped as proof of entry and exit.
• At the same time, your biometric data will be collected and stored in the EES.
• From April 10, 2026, stamps will be phased out completely, leaving only the digital system in place.

This dual process means you should expect slightly longer checks during the early months. However, once fully rolled out, EES will help improve efficiency and strengthen border security across Europe.

What Data Does the EES Collect and Store?

The EES records more than just your arrival and departure dates. When you cross an external border of any European country using the EES, your travel history and biometric data are stored in a secure database that supports border management and strengthens security.

Types of Data Collected

The EES gathers several categories of personal and travel-related information:

• Travel document details (passport number, type, and issuing country)
• Date, time, and place of each entry and exit
• Biometrics such as facial images and, in many cases, fingerprints
• Records of any entry refusals, including reasons for denial

Data Retention Periods

The system does not keep your data indefinitely.

• Standard retention: Data is stored for three years after your last recorded border crossing.
• Extended retention: Data may be kept for up to five years if you are found to have overstayed, presented fraudulent documents, or if authorities refuse you entry.

This retention policy ensures authorities can monitor irregular migration while balancing privacy concerns.

Who Can Access the Data?

Only designated authorities under strict conditions can access EES records. These include:

• Border police at entry points to check your travel history.
• Immigration authorities to ensure compliance with the 90/180-day rule.
• Europol, but only in specific cases linked to combating terrorism or serious crime.

Your data is not shared with commercial entities and remains under the protection of EU data privacy rules.

What Does the EES Mean for Travelers?

The EES represents a major shift in how you will move through Europe’s borders starting from its official start date on October 12, 2025. 

Whether you are traveling for a short holiday to Germany, crossing the land border from the Port of Dover, or catching a flight from Ireland into Spain, the EES will change the experience of border checks in several important ways.

Faster and More Efficient Border Crossings

One of the biggest benefits you’ll notice is the move toward automated, streamlined checks. Instead of relying on manual stamps, your biometric and travel data will be recorded digitally, which reduces paperwork and human error.

Over time, self-service systems and automated gates will help speed up flows, especially at busy airports and ferry terminals.

End of Manual Passport Stamping

Another clear change is the end of traditional passport stamping. While stamps will still be used during the initial rollout until April 2026, once the EES is fully operational, your UK passport or any other non-EU travel document will no longer be marked this way. 

This eliminates confusion over faded or unreadable stamps and ensures your travel record is updated automatically across all European countries using the system.

Easier Enforcement of Schengen Stay Limits

For many travelers, keeping track of the 90/180-day rule can be complicated. With the EES, the system calculates your days across all Schengen borders, making it much easier for authorities to detect overstays or enforce a refusal of entry if necessary. 

For you, this means greater clarity on your allowed stay and fewer disputes at the border.

Potential for Longer Queues During Initial Rollout

Although the long-term goal is to speed up travel, you should be prepared for possible delays at the beginning. Registration requires fingerprints and facial images, and UK travelers in particular may experience extra checks due to post-Brexit rules.

Locations like the Port of Dover have already flagged that queues may be longer than usual as border staff and passengers adjust.

Common Questions About the EES

The EES raises many practical questions for travelers preparing to visit Europe. 

To help you feel confident before your trip, here are clear answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about biometric passports, children’s registration, post-Brexit travel, and what happens if you refuse to provide biometrics.

Do I need a biometric passport?

You do not strictly need a biometric passport to travel, but having one will make the process much faster. If your passport contains a chip with your personal and biometric data, you may be able to use self-service kiosks or automated gates at certain borders, cutting down waiting times. 

Without a biometric passport, you can still travel, but you’ll need to undergo manual checks by border officials, which can take longer.

Will children be fingerprinted?

Children under the age of 12 will not be fingerprinted when registering in the EES. Instead, their travel document details and facial image will be recorded. 

This rule helps reduce the administrative burden on families while still ensuring that children have a digital record within the system.

How does EES affect UK travelers after Brexit?

If you hold a UK passport, you are now considered a third-country national when visiting the EU. This means you must register with the EES by providing your fingerprints and a facial image at your first border crossing after the start date. 

For at least the first six months, your passport will continue to be stamped alongside digital registration, but from April 2026 onward, stamps will no longer be used.

Expect longer queues during the rollout period, especially at busy entry points like airports and ferry ports.

What happens if I refuse biometrics?

If you refuse to provide fingerprints or a facial photo, you will be denied entry into the Schengen Area. The EES relies on biometric verification to ensure accurate identity checks and to enforce rules such as stay limits. 

While you do have rights regarding data protection and correction of errors, refusal to provide biometrics means border authorities cannot admit you.

Get Ready for the EES and Travel with Confidence

The EES is a new digital border control solution that replaces passport stamps, tracks your movements across the Schengen Area, and improves security through biometric checks. 

While the rollout may cause some initial delays, the system is designed to simplify border crossings and make travel more efficient in the long run. 

To avoid surprises, make sure your passport is valid, keep track of your 90/180-day stay limit, and stay updated on requirements before your next trip.