Europe Entry/Exit System

April 2026

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a major new border control system introduced by the European Union that changes how non-EU travellers enter and leave Europe. Here’s a clear breakdown of what it is and why it matters.

The EES is a digital border system that records when non-EU travellers enter and exit the Schengen Area (most EU countries plus a few others). It replaces the old practice of stamping passports. 

• Fully operational across Europe as of 10 April 2026  
• First launched in October 2025 with a gradual rollout  
• Applies to short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period)  
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Instead of stamping your passport, border control now uses biometric and digital checks:

• Scan your passport 
• Take fingerprints and a facial photo 
• Store entry/exit dates in a central database  

On your first visit, your data is collected. On future trips, border officers just verify your identity using those stored biometrics. 

EES applies to:

• Non-EU travellers (e.g., Canadians, Americans, Brits) 
• Both visa-free visitors and short-stay visa holders  

It does NOT apply to:

• EU/Schengen citizens 
• People with long-term residence permits 
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The system is designed to:

• Improve border security 
• Detect people who overstay their allowed time 
• Reduce identity fraud 
• Modernize border control with faster automation  
• 
  

If you’re travelling to Europe now:

• No more passport stamps 
• Expect biometric checks at the border 
• Your stays are automatically tracked across all Schengen countries 
• You may use self-service kiosks in some airports 
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The launch hasn’t been perfectly smooth:

• Reports of long queues (up to hours) at some airports 
• Airlines and airports warned of operational challenges during rollout  

These are expected to improve as systems and staffing adjust.

EES is just one part of a broader system. It will work alongside the upcoming ETIAS travel authorization (expected after 2026), similar to the U.S. ESTA.

The EES is essentially Europe’s move to a fully digital, biometric border system.
For travellers, it means:

• More data collected 
• Less paperwork and stamping 
• Potentially faster crossings in the long run (after initial hiccups) 

Participating Countries:

• Austria      
• Belgium      
• Bulgaria      
• Croatia      
• Czechia      
• Denmark      
• Estonia      
• Finland      
• France      
• Germany      
• Greece      
• Hungary      
• Italy 
• Latvia      
• Lithuania      
• Luxembourg      
• Malta 
• Netherlands      
• Poland      
• Portugal      
• Romania      
• Slovakia      
• Slovenia      
• Spain 
• Sweden      

🌍 Non-EU countries 

• Iceland      
• Liechtenstein      
• Norway      
• Switzerland