Entry/Exit System
The Entry/Exit System is a system of the European Union for the automatic electronic monitoring and recording of border crossings of third-country nationals at all border crossings of the Schengen Area. The system, being operated by eu-LISA, is operational at some Schengen Area border checkpoints and will be operational at all of them by 10 April 2026, after which passport stamps will no longer be used upon entering or exiting the Schengen Area.
The system stores information including name, date of birth, fingerprints and biometrics for facial recognition, and locations and times of border crossings in a database of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
Exemptions
The Entry/Exit system does not apply to the following classes of individuals:Citizens of the following countries and regions: :
- European Union
- EFTA
- Andorra
- San Marino
- Monaco
- Holy See
- Foreign citizens holding a:
- * Residence permit or a residence card issued by an EU or Schengen country
- * Long-stay schengen visa
- * Valid local border traffic permit
Border process
The first time a traveler passes through the new EES system, they will need to provide a few personal details. A passport officer will take a picture of the individual’s face and/or scan their fingerprints. In some cases, travelers have the ability to register this information in advance, through a self-service system at specific border entry points, or through a mobile application called Travel to Europe, if it is available for your country of arrival/departure.After a traveler has passed through EES for the first time and their data has been recorded, an agent will simply verify their identity for all subsequent entries. At some border crossing points, self-service kiosks will be available for those who have already passed through EES less than three years ago and hold biometric passports.