The EES (Entry/Exit System) is the electronic register of non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area for short stays. On your first entry they take 4 fingerprints and a photo, and log your entry and exit dates. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been live at every border since 10 April 2026. It's free and there's nothing to apply for.
What the EES does
- Replaces passport stamps: since 10 April 2026 passports are no longer stamped.
- Automatically calculates your 90 days in 180 and flags overstays.
- Records refusals of entry.
- Catches people using fake identities or passports.
Who does it apply to?
Non-EU citizens traveling for short stays to one of the 29 countries that use the EES (the Schengen countries), whether or not they need a visa. It doesn't apply to citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, or to people with a residence permit or long-stay visa.
Cyprus and Ireland don't use the EES.
What data it keeps, and for how long
| Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Passport details | Name, date of birth, document number… |
| Biometrics | Facial image and 4 fingerprints (if you don't need a visa). Children under 12 aren't fingerprinted. |
| Movements | Date and place of every entry and exit, and refusals of entry. |
| Retention | 3 years from the record; 5 years if no exit is recorded. |
What happens at the airport
We walk you through it in the EES at the border: self-service kiosks, the booth, how long it takes and what happens with kids.
EES and ETIAS aren't the same
The EES is the registration done at the border and it's already live. ETIAS is a permit you'll apply for before you travel and it isn't running yet. See the differences.
Do you have to do the EES every time you travel?
No, the full registration only happens once. On your first crossing, officers (or a kiosk) take your fingerprints and photo and create your EES record. That record stays valid for 3 years. On later trips your entry and exit dates are still logged every time, but you only need a quick identity check, usually a face scan or a single fingerprint.
If you don't travel to Europe for more than three years, your record expires and you go through the full registration again.
Can you pre-register for the EES?
Partly. The official Travel to Europe app, run by Frontex, lets travellers with a biometric passport enter their passport details and take their own photo up to 72 hours before arriving or leaving. It only works at border crossing points that have chosen to use it (Stockholm Arlanda was the first), and fingerprints are still taken at the border in front of an officer.
Pre-registering is voluntary and doesn't guarantee entry: it just shortens the time you spend at the booth.
EES for travellers from the UK: Dover, Eurostar and Le Shuttle
If you leave Britain by Eurostar, Le Shuttle or ferry from Dover, the French border check, and therefore your EES registration, happens before you leave the UK. St Pancras station has self-service pre-registration kiosks before the ticket gates, Folkestone has a dedicated kiosk area and the Port of Dover has a new processing area at its Western Docks.
The UK government advises allowing extra time, especially at busy periods. If you fly, registration happens at your arrival airport in the Schengen Area.
How the EES counts your days
Because the EES logs every entry and exit, it calculates your 90 days in any 180 automatically and flags overstays. You can check your own balance with the EU's official "check how long you can stay" tool, or plan ahead with our 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to do anything before traveling because of the EES?
No. Registration happens at the border. Some countries let you pre-register details with the official Travel to Europe app.
What if I refuse to give my fingerprints?
You'll be refused entry. Biometric registration is mandatory for travelers subject to the EES.
Do I need a biometric passport?
No. Both biometric and non-biometric passports are accepted. A biometric one is only needed for self-service kiosks.
Does the EES apply in Cyprus?
No. Cyprus doesn't use the EES, although it will require ETIAS once it starts.
Do you do EES every time?
Your entries and exits are recorded every time, but fingerprints and a photo are only taken in full on your first trip. After that, a quick identity check is enough while your record is valid (3 years).
Can you pre-register for EES in the UK?
You can use the self-service kiosks at St Pancras or Folkestone before the French border check, and the Travel to Europe app lets you add passport data and a photo up to 72 hours ahead where it is supported. Fingerprints are always taken at the border.
Which countries use the EES?
The 29 Schengen countries. Cyprus and Ireland do not use it.
How long does EES registration take?
A few minutes per person, but queues can be longer than before, especially at peak times. Allow extra time on your first trip after the launch.
Keep reading
Sources
- European Commission: official EES website
- European Commission: EES FAQ
- European Commission: data held by the EES
- Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 (EES)
- GOV.UK: EU Entry/Exit System
- Frontex: Travel to Europe app
- European Commission: check how long you can stay (EES)
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.