Entry/Exit System

The EES is currently not in operation. It is due to start in 2025.

What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?

The Entry/Exit System is a large-scale information system, created to increase the efficiency of controls at the external borders of the Schengen area. It is a centralised system for non-EU nationals crossing the external borders of the European Union for short stays.

EES records and stores the date, time and place of entry and exit of third-country nationals crossing the EU borders and automatically calculates the length of authorised stay of these third-country nationals. On this basis, it then issues alerts to the Member States when the period of authorised stay has expired. It also replaces the requirement to stamp the passport of non-EU nationals, which applies in all Member States.

Under well-defined conditions, the EES can be used by designated Member state authorities and by Europol for the prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences or other serious crimes (law enforcement access).

The objectives of the EES are further described in particular in Articles 1 and 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2017 establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes, and amending the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement and Regulations (EC) No 767/2008 and (EU) No 1077/2011.

Which categories of information are processed in the EES?

The data processed in EES include information on the identity and travel documents of individuals as well as their biometric data (facial images, fingerprints).

Further information regarding what kind of data are processed in EES under different circumstances (e.g. depending on whether the third-country national is subject to a visa obligation) is contained in particular in Articles 15 to 20 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226.

Further information can be found in the official European Commission leaflet.