Entry/Exit System

EES, the Entry/Exit System: what happens at the border

The Entry/Exit System (EES) replaces passport stamps with a digital record. It registers non-EU travellers on a short stay when they cross the external borders of 29 European countries, with their fingerprints and a photo of their face. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.

Check my passport →Official EU ETIAS website ↗

Based on official EU sourcesLast fact-checked 9 November 2026Last updated 9 November 2026

Who is registered

Non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period), whether they need a visa or not. That includes travellers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada or Australia.

Not registered: citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland; holders of a residence permit or long-stay visa; family members of EU citizens holding a residence card; nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and holders of a Vatican passport; and a few other categories such as diplomats in certain cases.

Where it applies

At the external borders of the 29 Schengen countries: air, sea and land. Cyprus and Ireland do not use the EES and continue to stamp passports. Bulgaria and Romania do use it.

What happens at the border

First crossing. Your passport is scanned, and an officer or a self-service kiosk takes a photo of your face and four fingerprints. The date and place of entry are recorded. This first registration takes longer than the old stamp, which explains the queues reported at some borders.

Next crossings. Your file already exists. A quick check of your face or fingerprints is enough, and entries and exits are added to your record.

Children under 12 do not give fingerprints, but their photo is taken. Travellers who already gave their fingerprints for a Schengen visa usually only have their photo taken.

Refusal to give biometric data means refusal of entry.

Travelling from the United Kingdom by Eurostar, Eurotunnel or ferry from Dover

French border checks take place on British soil at St Pancras, Folkestone and Dover. Your EES registration therefore happens before departure, in the UK, not on arrival in France. Allow extra time, especially at peak periods.

How long your data is kept

Data	Kept for
Entry, exit and refusal records	3 years from the date of the record
Your personal file (identity and biometrics)	3 years and 1 day after your last exit
If no exit is recorded	5 years after your authorised stay ends

You have the right to access and correct your data with the authorities of the country concerned.

EES and the 90/180-day rule

The rule itself does not change: 90 days maximum in any rolling 180-day period, across all Schengen countries. What changes is that the count is now automatic and exact. An overstay is flagged in the system, can lead to an entry ban and will weigh on future ETIAS or visa applications.

To check your own count before a trip, use the European Commission’s official short-stay calculator. Days in Cyprus are counted separately.

EES and ETIAS

The two systems are linked but distinct. EES records your crossings at the border; ETIAS will be an authorisation obtained online before departure. ETIAS cannot start until EES is fully in place, which is why its launch depended on EES. See ETIAS vs EES.