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EES – entry and exit system for third-country nationals travelling in the Schengen area
The new digital entry and exit system, EES, is gradually being rolled out in the Schengen area as well as in the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The system digitally records the entry and exit of third-country nationals and will replace physical stamps in passports.
Written by
Milad Safi
Forfattere
On 12 October 2025, the roll-out of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) started at the borders of the Schengen area. The system records all third-country nationals’ entries and exits in connection with short stays – i.e. stays on a visa or visa-free stays without a work permit requirement – and will gradually replace manual stamps in passports.
Purpose and background
The purpose of the EES is to strengthen border control, modernise registration procedures and ensure enforcement of the rules on residence in the Schengen area. The system will also help to improve security and make it easier to identify persons who exceed the permitted period of stay.
How the EES works
When entering and exiting the Schengen area, the details of third-country nationals will be registered digitally. The registration includes:
- Information on identity, including name, travel document details and nationality
- Biometric data (facial image and fingerprints)
- Time and place of entry and exit, as well as any refusals of entry
The information is stored in a central database for up to 3 years from the date of exit (or 5 years if the permitted duration of stay is exceeded).
The system will automatically calculate how many days a traveller has stayed in the Schengen area and how many days remain of the permitted short stay – typically 90 days within any 180-day period.
Gradual roll-out
The EES will be rolled out gradually between 12 October 2025 and 9 April 2026, so we are now a few months into the roll-out period. During this period, the registration of information, including biometric data, will not necessarily take place at all Member States’ external borders. Certain functions, such as the ability to check remaining days of stay online or via terminals at border crossings, will only become available once the roll-out is complete.
In the longer term, the EES will be supplemented by a new travel authorisation system, ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System).
Norrbom Vinding notes:
The EES marks a significant shift in the control of third-country nationals travelling to and from the Schengen area, and companies that employ foreign workers or have guests from third countries should be aware of the new procedures.
The system is expected to contribute to more effective border control and better enforcement of the rules on short stays, but may also lead to longer processing times on entry during the implementation phase.
Norrbom Vinding is monitoring the implementation of the EES and upcoming initiatives, including the introduction of ETIAS.
The content of the above is not, and should not be a substitute for legal advice.
Forfattere