The Entry/Exit System (EES), explained
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is the EU’s automated register of non-EU travellers on short stays. It replaces passport stamps with an electronic record of every entry, exit and refusal of entry at the external borders of 29 European countries. It doesn’t change the 90/180 rule. It makes the rule easier to check, for you and for the authorities.
Since when
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 12 October 2025 | The EES started operating and was rolled out progressively over six months. |
| Until 9 April 2026 | Progressive phase: biometrics might not be collected at every crossing point, and some crossings might still not be recorded. |
| 10 April 2026 | Fully operational at all external border crossing points of the countries using the system. |
Who is registered
You are registered if you are not a national of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, and you travel for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). This applies whether or not you need a visa.
The EES does not apply, among others, to:
- nationals of the countries using the EES, and of Cyprus and Ireland;
- holders of residence permits and long-stay visas;
- non-EU family members of EU citizens who hold a residence card;
- nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, and holders of a Vatican City / Holy See passport;
- people exempt from border checks, such as heads of state and accredited diplomats.
The official page lists every exception.
What it records
- The data in your travel document (name, date of birth, etc.).
- Date and place of each entry and exit.
- A facial image and fingerprints. If you hold a Schengen visa, your fingerprints are already in the Visa Information System and are not stored again.
- Whether you were refused entry.
If you refuse to give your biometrics, you will be refused entry.
How long the data is kept
| Record | Kept for |
|---|---|
| Entries, exits and refusals | 3 years from when each record was created |
| Your individual file | 3 years and 1 day from your last exit (or refusal) |
| If no exit is recorded | 5 years from the end of your authorised stay |
What the EES means for the 90/180 rule
The system knows exactly how many days you have spent in the area, so mistakes are no longer hidden by an illegible stamp. The countries using the EES still stamp nothing. Cyprus and Ireland keep stamping passports by hand.
What if you stay longer than allowed
According to the official FAQ:
- If you are found to have stayed more than 90 days, you are subject to the return procedures of the Return Directive (2008/115/EC). Voluntary departure is generally preferred.
- A return decision is accompanied by an entry ban in some cases (for example, when no time for voluntary departure was granted or the obligation to return was ignored), and may be in others. Return decisions and entry bans are entered in the Schengen Information System (SIS). An entry ban should not in principle exceed five years.
- If you have already used 90 days in the last 180 and try to enter again, you will be refused entry, and the refusal is recorded in the EES.
Depending on the country, administrative penalties such as fines may also apply. They are set by national law and differ from one country to another.
EES and ETIAS are different things
The EES records crossings. ETIAS will be a travel authorisation that visa-free travellers request online before the trip. ETIAS is not in operation yet. See the ETIAS status page.