A Modern, More Efficient Border Management System for Europe
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is Europe’s new border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries. Starting from 12 October 2025, the 29 European countries using the EES will progressively roll out the system at their external borders over a period of six months.
Which European countries use the EES?
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Who will be registered in the EES?
Non-EU nationals travelling to the European countries using the EES for a short stay (up to 90 days within a 180-day period), will be registered in the EES. Travellers’ data will be registered in the EES, regardless of whether they need a short-stay visa or they are visa-free travellers. Certain travellers are exempt from registration (see the section on ‘Exemptions’). Refusals of entry are also recorded in the system. The EES will not introduce any new requirements for people able to freely move throughout Europe.
Which data are collected by the EES?
- Personal data from the travel document, such as full name, date of birth, nationality;
- Date and place of each entry to and exit from the 29 European countries using the EES;
- Biometric data such as facial image and/or fingerprints;
- Information on refused entry, if applicable.
Privacy Travellers’ data will be collected and stored in full compliance with EU data protection rules and rights. For more information on data protection and how you can exercise your rights in this respect, including the right to request access to or rectify data relating to you, visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/data-held-by-ees.
Exemptions
The EES will not apply to:
- Nationals of 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, 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
- Those holding a valid local border traffic permit
- Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys
