The European Union is preparing to roll out a new digital immigration system called the Entry/Exit System (EES). No doubt, this automated platform will change how travelers enter and leave the EU’s external borders, marking the end of traditional passport stamping.
While the EES EU aims to improve security and streamline border management, it also raises questions about privacy and its impact on migrants and asylum seekers.
What Is the Entry Exit System in the EU?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a centralized digital platform designed to record personal data, travel movements, and border crossings for non-EU citizens entering the Schengen Area.
Once the EES EU becomes fully operational, passport stamps will be replaced with a digital record that tracks entries and exits automatically. There is no fee of using EES service at the airports. The system automatically stores the following information:
| Data Collected | Details |
| Personal Information | Full name, nationality, passport details |
| Biometric Data | Facial image and fingerprints |
| Travel Data | Dates and places of entry and exit |
| Entry Refusals | Records of denied entry |
Launch Date and Implementation Timeline
The EES EU officially begins operations on October 12, 2025, at airports across participating European countries. Over the following months, the system will gradually expand to land borders, ports, and train stations. Furthermore, the full implementation across the EU’s external borders is expected by April 10, 2026.
During this transition period, both manual passport stamping and electronic registration will coexist. After April 2026, passport stamps will be completely phased out.
Who Must Register in the EES EU
Registration in the EES EU is mandatory for travelers who:
- Are non-EU nationals (not citizens of any EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland).
- Visit the EU for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
- Either require a short-stay visa or are visa-exempt but still entering for tourism, business, or short-term visits.
At the border, travelers will need to provide biometric data — a facial image and fingerprints — which will be stored securely for three years.
Who Is Exempt from EES EU Registration
Some categories of travelers are exempt from registering in the system. These include:
| Exempt Travellers | Reason/Details |
| EU Citizens, Cyprus, and Ireland Nationals | Already enjoy free movement within the EU. |
| Residents with Valid EU Residence Cards or Permits | Their biometric data is already recorded. |
| Holders of Long-Stay Visas | Staying for work, study, or family purposes. |
| Diplomats and Military Personnel | Covered under special agreements. |
| Crew Members and Cross-Border Workers | May have simplified or exempted procedures. |
| Nationals of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, or Vatican City | Covered under separate arrangements. |
How the EES EU Works at the Border
When a traveler crosses an EU external border after the launch date, the process will look like this:
First-Time Travelers
- Show your passport at the border checkpoint.
- Provide facial recognition data and fingerprints.
- Your details will be stored digitally in the EES database.
- In the future, you can use self-service kiosks or a mobile app to pre-register and save time.
Returning Travelers
- Border officers will verify your stored biometric data.
- The process will be faster and more automated.
- If using a biometric passport, you may pass through automated self-service lanes.
While biometric passports are recommended for convenience, non-biometric passports are still accepted as long as they are valid and meet entry requirements.
Where the EES EU Will Be Used
The EES EU will apply at:
- Airports across participating EU nations
- Sea ports and major ferry terminals
- Train stations serving cross-border routes (e.g., Eurostar)
- Land crossings between the EU and non-EU countries
For example, Eurostar passengers traveling from London to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam will complete EES registration before departure, meaning no additional border checks upon arrival.
Data Storage and Privacy
The EES EU has strict rules on how long personal data is stored. The system automatically deletes data after a set period, depending on the situation.
| Type of Data | Retention Period | Details |
| Entry, Exit, and Refusal Records | 3 years | From the date the record was created. |
| Personal Data File | 3 years and 1 day | From last exit or refusal of entry. |
| No Recorded Exit | 5 years | From the end of the authorized stay. |
| Family Members of EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens | 1 year | From date of exit record creation. |
All personal information collected under EES EU is automatically deleted once the time limit expires, ensuring compliance with EU privacy and data protection laws.
EES and Overstays
The EES will automatically calculate how long non-EU travelers stay in the Schengen Area. Anyone exceeding 90 days within 180 days will be flagged as an overstayer.
Overstaying can lead to penalties, including:
- Entry bans (up to five years)
- Return decisions under the EU Return Directive (2008/115)
- Registration of violations in the Schengen Information System (SIS)
Travel to Europe App: How Non-EU Travelers Can Pre-Register for the EES EU
The Travel to Europe mobile application, developed by Frontex, introduces a new way for non-EU travelers to make their border crossing smoother and faster. This app allows users to pre-register their travel document data and facial image for the upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES EU) — even before they arrive at an EU border.
What Is the Travel to Europe App?
The Travel to Europe app is a voluntary tool created to support the implementation of the EES EU, the European Union’s new digital border management system.
Through the app, non-EU nationals can enter their passport details and upload a facial image within 72 hours before arriving in or leaving the EU.
This pre-registration helps speed up checks at border control points but does not replace official procedures. Travelers will still go through standard passport control and biometric verification when they reach the border.
Why Pre-Register with the Travel to Europe App?
Pre-registering with the app offers several advantages for both travelers and border authorities:
- Reduced waiting times at EU border checkpoints.
- Simplified entry process through digital pre-submission of data.
- Less physical interaction at border kiosks, especially helpful for elderly travelers, people with disabilities, and families with children.
- Fewer steps are required upon arrival, as most information is already recorded in the EES EU system.
While using the app is optional, it can make travel more comfortable and efficient — particularly during busy periods or at high-traffic border crossings.
How It Works
Here’s how the Travel to Europe app works for non-EU travelers:
- Download the App – Available to travelers entering or leaving the EU from countries that choose to participate.
- Pre-Register Travel Details – Upload passport information and a facial image up to 72 hours before travel.
- Complete the Entry Questionnaire – The app includes a short form known as the “conditions of entry” questionnaire, which can be filled in advance.
- Arrive at the Border – Present your passport as usual. Border officers will verify your details and collect your fingerprints in person for security reasons.
Important: Pre-registration through the app does not guarantee entry into the EU. It only helps speed up the process once you reach the border.
Voluntary Use by EU Member States
Participation in the Travel to Europe app is voluntary for EU Member States. Each country can decide if, when, and how it wishes to integrate the app into its border management systems. Countries interested in adopting the app must notify Frontex of their intention to join.
Additionally, Member States can choose which app features to activate — whether it’s document pre-registration, the entry questionnaire, or both — based on their national border control procedures.
Impact on Asylum Seekers and Migrants
One of the most debated aspects of the EES EU is its potential impact on asylum seekers.
Migrants arriving by air or sea who intend to claim asylum will now have to submit their biometric and personal data before they can apply. While the system aims to prevent illegal entry and document fraud, it may also create challenges for vulnerable individuals.
If any irregularities are detected during registration — such as discrepancies in documents or travel history — asylum applications could face delays. The information stored in EES can also be used to track previous asylum claims made in other EU countries under the Dublin Regulation, which determines the country responsible for processing asylum requests.
This means that migrants detected as having entered the EU through another member state may be deported back to that country.
Conclusion: A New Era for Border Management
The EES EU represents one of the most significant changes in Europe’s border control policy in decades. It promises faster processing, stronger security, and better tracking of non-EU visitors.
However, as Europe transitions into this digital era, the challenge will be balancing border efficiency with human rights protections — especially for asylum seekers and those with complex travel histories.
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