New Entry Exit System (EES) for Tourists visiting the EU!

The new Entry Exit System – EES – is expected to come in to force from October 2025. It applies to any non-EU traveler visiting any of the 29 Schengen countries (see list below).

If you are planning to visit a country in the EU this year, this article covers what you need to know.

How Does the New EES work?

The EES aims to create a smoother entry and exit system for non-EU travelers who are visiting European countries for short stays (up to 90 days).

On arrival at their first European destination tourists will need to register their biometric data (fingerprints and photo) at dedicated kiosks. This will create a digital record that remains valid for three years.

Once the data has been stored travelers will just scan their passport at booths when exiting and entering other European countries. No more queuing to have your passport physically checked and stamped at every country border!!

The EES will assist Immigration and Border Authorities by digitally recording people entering their country. It will alert them to any travelers with entry rejections, or travelers who have overstayed.

What data does the Entry Exit System collect?

The system will collect the following data:

Data listed in your travel document(s) (e.g. full name, date of birth, etc.)
Date and place of each entry and exit
Facial image and fingerprints (called ‘biometric data’)
Whether you were refused entry.

It is worth noting that if you do not want to provide your biometric data on arrival, you will be denied entry into any of the European countries using the EES.

Things to Remember about the Entry Exit System

If you require a visa to enter a particular European country, you will still need to secure one before traveling.

If you hold a short-stay visa to enter the Schengen area, your fingerprints will already be stored in the Visa Information System (VIS) and will not be stored again in the EES.

The EU has some really strong Data Protection Laws. Only Border, Visa and Immigration authorities will have access to your data. But Europol may also be given access to your data for law enforcement purposes.

Your data will be held for 3 years (from the date your data was collected). You will need to submit your data again if you visit one of the European countries again after 3 years.

The EES will be implemented in phases over the next 18 months. During this time you may still need to queue to have your passport checked and stamped at the borders of some of the listed countries (below).