EUROPEAN ENTRY/EXIT SYSTEM (EES)

 

What is the EES?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new EU-wide electronic database designed to register the entry and exit of third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens) travelling for a short stay in the Schengen Area (up to 90 days in any 6 months period).

It replaces the current practice of passport stamps with digital registration. At each border crossing, travellers will undergo an automated process including:

  • passport scanning,
  • live facial photograph,
  • fingerprint collection (except for children under 12).

The system aims to strengthen security and ensure compliance with the 90/180-day rule.

When will it come into effect?

The system implementation will start on 12 October 2025 and will be rolled out gradually across all border crossing points (airports, ports, train stations, land borders).
The transition period will last about six months, with full implementation by April 2026. From then on, passport stamps will disappear.

Who is concerned?

  • All third-country nationals exempt from a short-stay visa (e.g. UK citizens, Americans, Australians, Canadians, Japanese, etc.).
  • All travellers requiring a Schengen short-stay visa.
  • Infants and children are also included (but only those aged 12 and over will provide fingerprints).

Exemptions: EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, Holders of residence permits or long-stay visas issued by a Schengen state, Diplomats and other specific categories.

What about Monegasques and Monaco residents?

The implementation of the EES will not affect Monegasque citizens or residents of Monaco. Just like EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, they remain exempt from the registration requirements. Monegasques and Monaco residents will continue to cross borders as they do today, without undergoing biometric registration or entry/exit recording under the EES.

How does it work in practice?

  • On the first entry after 12 October 2025, the traveller will go through a kiosk or desk maned by a border officer: passport scanned, live photo taken, fingerprints collected.
  • On subsequent trips, border checks will be quicker, with biometric verification and automatic updates.
  • Data will be stored for up to three years, simplifying repeat entries.

Cost and requirements

The EES is free of charge. There is no prior online registration: enrolment is done directly at the border.

Additional information

Further information is available at: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/ltr

For further details on the current regulation, we recommend consulting the following texts:

Regulation (EU) 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code)

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1728393533902&uri=CELEX%3A02016R0399-20240710

  • Article 6a, paragraph 3, point (f) – for Monegasque nationals
  • Article 6a, paragraph 3, point (c) – for Monegasque residents

Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 (establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES))

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32017R2226&qid=1759770141169

  • Article 2, paragraph 3, point (f) – for Monegasque nationals
  • Article 2, paragraph 3, point (c) – for Monegasque residents

With regard to residents, it should be noted that the list of residence permits referred to in Article 2(16) of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 includes the following Monegasque residence permits: temporary permit, ordinary permit, privilege permit and spouse of a Monegasque national permit. These are included pursuant to the Decision of the Executive Committee of 23 June 1998 concerning Monegasque residence permits [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A41998D0019].

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