The new Entry and Exit System (EES) will be launched on November 10, 2024, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs has officially confirmed.
The system, which will replace the traditional manual passport stamping, will record the traveler’s name, type of travel document, biometric data (including fingerprints and facial images), as well as the date and place of entry and exit. Travelers will need to have their passports scanned at a self-service kiosk each time they enter the EU.
Once the EES is activated, all foreign travelers will need to register in the system. Travelers’ data will be stored securely in a database for three years, meaning travelers will not need to register each time they enter and leave the country.
According to the EU’s own words, the activation of the EES system will allow for the identification of travelers who are not permitted to enter or overstay in European countries, the detection of those who use false identities or passports, and the prevention, detection, and investigation of terrorist crimes or other serious criminal offenses.
EES is a new electronic system that will automatically record travelers’ identity information, replacing the previous manual customs stamps, and will automatically calculate the length of time a traveler can stay in an EU country and automatically identify non-EU citizens who have overstayed.
Improve border security: by tracking the entry and exit records of each non-EU citizen, it will help EU member states identify potential security threats or illegal stays.
Streamline entry and exit procedures: automated record keeping and data processing can improve the efficiency of border checks.
Support migration management: help governments manage and monitor length of stay to ensure compliance with visa and entry requirements.
Personal information listed in travel documents (e.g. full name, date of birth, etc.) Dates and places of entry and exit from European countries using EES Facial images and fingerprints (biometric data) Information on denial of entry
Non-EU citizens: this includes citizens of countries that require visas and those that are visa-free.
Short-term arrivals: i.e. travelers visiting an EU country within 90 days (excluding holders of long-stay or work visas).
Travelers to the EU for tourism or transit are required to collect personal information, which is stored in the system for a period of 3 years, and does not need to be re-collected within 3 years of entering or leaving the EU.
All EU Member States (except Cyprus and Ireland, where passports will continue to be stamped manually) as well as non-EU Schengen countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) will join the system.
It will also be integrated with another system, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), so that the EES system for European Schengen countries, like the Esta system in the United States, will apply to travelers from visa-exempt countries as well as visas-on-arrival for short-term tourist and business stays, said Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, adding that in early 2025, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will also go live, although there is no exact start date yet, and ETIAS will require travelers from visa-exempt countries to apply for authorization before traveling to a Schengen country and pay a fee of 7 euros, valid for three years.
Be free to consult us on custom anti-counterfeiting solutions to protect your product and brand, help you increase revenue, and build customer loyalty.
