The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) began operating on 12 October 2025 at the external borders of the Schengen countries. The system is being introduced gradually over six months and is scheduled to be fully operational by 10 April 2026, when manual passport stamping will end.
What is EES?
EES is an automated system that registers non-EU travellers each time they cross an external Schengen border. It records:
- your name and travel document details,
- your fingerprints and a facial image,
- the date and place of each entry and exit,
- any refusal of entry.
Because entries and exits are recorded electronically, the system automatically calculates how much of your 90-days-in-180 short-stay allowance you have used — and flags overstays.
Who does it apply to?
EES applies to non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, whether or not they need a visa.
It does not apply to:
- citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland,
- holders of residence permits or residence cards issued by a Schengen country,
- holders of long-stay (D-type) national visas.
So if you live in Poland with a residence card or a national visa, EES registration does not apply to you — but friends and family visiting you from outside the EU will be registered.
What to expect at the border
- The first crossing takes longer, while your biometric data is captured at a kiosk or border booth.
- Later crossings should be faster, because your data is already in the system.
- Overstays are easier to detect, so it is more important than ever to count your days carefully.
What comes next
EES is the first of the EU's new border systems. The next will be ETIAS, a pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, which the EU plans to launch once EES is fully in place.
Planning visits for family members? Our team can help you understand the rules.