Last updated on 4 October 2024

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any of the following European countries using the 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.

For the purpose of the EES, ‘non-EU national’ means a traveller not holding the nationality of any European Union country or the nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

‘Short stay’ means up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES.

Which countries’ nationals must be registered in the EES?

The system applies to you if you are a non-EU national and you:

  • need a short-stay visa to travel to the European countries using the EES

or

  • do not need a visa to travel for a short stay in the European countries using the EES

Your entries and exits, or entry refusals will be electronically registered in the EES.

In Cyprus and Ireland, despite being countries of the European Union, passports will still be stamped manually.

The Entry/Exit System modernises the management of the EU’s external borders, gradually improving the experience for travellers.

It identifies overstayers and provides reliable data on entries, exits, and refusals of entry.

This system will effectively combat identity fraud by collecting biometric data.

Security within the EU will be strengthened thanks to improved border checks, use of electronic records and biometric data.

The EES promotes real-time information sharing, ensuring that border authorities across the EU have the right information at the right time.

You can check the number of days you are still allowed to stay on the territory of European countries using the EES through the EES online tool, which you can find:

  • on this webpage (will be available soon)
  • when using the equipment installed at some external borders

When consulting the EES online tool, you will receive information on whether your entry is allowed (‘OK’ or ‘not OK’), as well as information about the number of days that you are still allowed to stay on the territory of the European countries using the EES.

You can also ask the passport control officers at external borders for this information.

If you arrive at a border crossing point for the first time since the EES started

You will have to provide your personal data. Passport control officers will scan your fingerprints or take a photo of your face. This information will be recorded in a digital file.

Your passport (biometric or non-biometric) will not be stamped.

This process can be quicker if you register some of your data in advance. You can do this by using:

  • the dedicated equipment (“self-service system”), if available at your border crossing point; and/or
  • a mobile application – if made available by the country of arrival or departure.

In any of the instances above, you will meet a passport control officer.

If you have crossed the borders of the European countries using the EES more than once since the EES started

Your fingerprints or the photo of your face will already be recorded in the EES.

The passport control officers will only verify your fingerprints and photo, which will take less time. In rare cases, it may be necessary to collect and record your data again.

If you hold a biometric passport, you will be able to enter more quickly using the self-service system (if available at that border crossing point). If your digital file is clear of any impediments to travel, you will usually not need to go via a passport control officer.

  • 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