European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) to launch on November 10

The European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to launch on November 10, 2024, as confirmed by EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson. During a visit to eu-LISA, the EU agency responsible for the IT infrastructure of the EES, Johansson expressed confidence in the system’s readiness.

“The moment is finally here. There may have been times when you thought it would never happen,” Johansson remarked, emphasising the significance of the upcoming launch. “But it’s going to happen. Everything is coming together. We’re in the final testing phase. There is a real momentum now. Carriers, operators, train stations, airports—everyone is getting ready for the big day.”

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system that is transforming how non-EU nationals are registered when traveling to European countries for short stays. This system, which covers numerous European countries, is designed to enhance security, streamline border processes, and provide accurate data on the movement of travellers across the EU’s external borders.

The EES is in operation across a significant number of European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. For the purposes of this system, a ‘non-EU national’ refers to any traveller who does not hold citizenship in an EU country or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

The system applies to travellers making short stays, defined as visits up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This duration is calculated collectively across all participating European countries.

Who Needs to Register?

The EES applies to all non-EU nationals who:

• Require a short-stay visa to travel to European countries using the EES, or
• Do not require a visa for short stays in these countries.

Each entry, exit, or refusal of entry at the external borders of these countries is electronically registered in the EES. However, it is important to note that Cyprus and Ireland, despite being EU countries, will continue to manually stamp passports instead of using the EES.

Exemptions from the EES

Certain categories of travellers are exempt from registration in the EES, including:

• Nationals of the countries participating in the EES, as well as those from Cyprus and Ireland.
• Non-EU nationals with residence cards related to EU nationals.
• Individuals on intra-corporate transfers, or traveling for research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchanges, educational projects, or au-pairing.
• Holders of residence permits, long-stay visas, and certain diplomatic passports.
• Nationals of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican City, as well as those exempt from border checks, such as heads of state or cross-border workers.

Benefits of the EES

The EES offers several significant benefits:

• Modernised Border Management: The system improves the management of the EU’s external borders, making the travel experience smoother for non-EU nationals.
• Identification of Overstayers: By tracking entries and exits, the EES helps identify travellers who overstay their permitted time.
• Enhanced Security: The collection of biometric data, such as facial images and fingerprints, helps combat identity fraud and strengthens security within the EU.
• Real-Time Information Sharing: The EES enables real-time information sharing among border authorities across the EU, ensuring that the right data is available at the right time.

Data Collection and Usage

When crossing the external borders of countries using the EES, travellers need to provide specific personal data. The system records and stores:

• Personal details as listed in travel documents (e.g., full name, date of birth).
• The date and place of each entry and exit.
• Biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints.
• Any instances of entry refusal.

Biometric templates are created from the collected data and stored in a shared Biometric Matching Service. For travellers holding a short-stay visa, fingerprints are already stored in the Visa Information System (VIS) and will not be duplicated in the EES.

Depending on the situation, the EES may also collect additional personal information from the Visa Information System (VIS) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), particularly regarding the status of ETIAS travel authorisation and familial ties to EU nationals.

Records of Entries, Exits, and Refusals of Entry: Your data related to entries, exits, and any refusals of entry will be kept for 3 years starting from the date on which the record was created.

Individual Files Containing Personal Data: These files will be retained for three years and 1 day from the date of your last recorded exit or from the date of your refusal of entry, if you were not permitted to enter.

If No Exit Has Been Recorded: If your exit from the European countries using the EES is not recorded, your personal data will be retained for 5 years starting from the expiry date of your authorised stay.

This system ensures that your data is held only as long as necessary to fulfill its purpose, after which it will be automatically deleted.

How the EES Works at Border Crossings

With the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES), the process of crossing external borders into European countries using this system will undergo significant changes, particularly for non-EU nationals.

For First-Time Arrivals Since the EES Launch

If you are arriving at a border crossing point for the first time since the EES became operational, you will be required to provide your personal data. This involves passport control officers scanning your fingerprints or taking a photo of your face. This biometric information will be recorded in a digital file. Unlike previous procedures, your passport—whether biometric or non-biometric—will not be stamped.

To expedite this process, you can register some of your data in advance. This can be done using:

• Dedicated self-service systems available at some border crossing points, and/or
• A mobile application, if provided by the country of arrival or departure.
• In either case, you will still meet with a passport control officer during the process.

For Repeat Travellers Using the EES

If you have crossed the borders of European countries using the EES more than once, your biometric data—fingerprints or facial photos—will already be recorded in the system. Passport control officers will then simply verify this information, making the process quicker. In rare instances, they may need to collect and record your data again.

Travellers holding biometric passports will benefit from faster entry through the self-service system, if available at the border crossing point. If your digital file is free of any travel impediments, you will generally not need to go through a passport control officer.

It’s important to note that all other conditions for entry or exit remain in effect. Passport control officers may still take necessary measures, such as re-scanning your face or verifying other details, as required.

To whom does the EES not apply?

• Nationals of the European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland
• Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national
• Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen
• Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing
• Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
• Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See
• People exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (such as heads of state, cross-border workers, etc.)
• People not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours
• People holding a valid local border traffic permit
• Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys
• People holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State