What EES is and when it started
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an electronic border register set up by Regulation (EU) 2017/2226. It digitally records every entry into and exit from the Schengen area by non-EU nationals on short stays.
- 12 October 2025: the system started progressively at the external borders.
- 10 April 2026: EES became fully operational and replaced passport stamping.
EES is not a visa, a travel authorisation or an application. Whether you need a visa, and how you apply for one, has not changed; what has changed is how your border crossings are recorded.
Who it applies to and where it is used
EES applies to non-EU nationals coming to the Schengen area for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). That covers Turkish citizens travelling on a short-stay Schengen visa as well as nationals of visa-exempt countries.
It is used at the external borders of 29 European countries: the EU member states except Cyprus and Ireland, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. In Cyprus and Ireland, passports are still stamped manually.
Some groups fall outside EES, such as holders of a residence permit or a national (type D) long-stay visa issued by a Schengen country.
What EES records
- Your name and travel document (passport) details
- Your facial image
- Your fingerprints (not taken from children under 12)
- The date and place of each entry and exit
- Any refusal of entry and the reason for it
- Retention: as a rule 3 years; records of overstayers are kept for 5 years
What happens at the border
- 1
Go to passport control
If this is your first entry into the Schengen area since EES started, the border officer creates an individual file for you in the system.
- 2
Your biometrics are taken
Your facial image is captured, and your fingerprints are scanned or checked against those you gave for your visa. At some crossing points these steps may be done at self-service equipment; follow the staff's instructions.
- 3
The usual border check continues
The officer may still ask about the purpose of your trip, your accommodation or your means of subsistence. EES does not change the entry conditions, so keep supporting documents with you.
- 4
Your entry is recorded, not stamped
The date and place of entry are logged in the system; no stamp goes in your passport.
- 5
Later entries are a quicker check
While your record is valid, later crossings generally only compare your face or fingerprints with the record and add the new entry or exit date.
- 6
Your exit is recorded too
You are checked again when leaving the Schengen area, and the date and place of exit are logged, so the days you stayed are counted automatically.
The 90/180-day rule and automatic overstay detection
One of EES's main purposes is to detect overstayers automatically. Because entry and exit dates are recorded precisely, the system can calculate your remaining days under the 90/180-day rule.
The uncertainty of the stamp era is gone: an overstay becomes visible to border officers and the record is kept for 5 years, which may also be taken into account in future visa applications. The validity dates and number of days on your visa still apply as well.
How EES differs from ETIAS
The two systems are often confused but do different jobs:
- EES is a border register. It applies at the border to all non-EU short-stay travellers, with or without a visa, and needs no advance application.
- ETIAS is a travel authorisation that nationals of visa-exempt countries will have to obtain online before travelling to the Schengen area.
Turkish citizens who need a Schengen visa do not need ETIAS; a valid Schengen visa is enough. The EU will announce the ETIAS start date separately; check its current status on the official Travel to Europe website and ignore unofficial sites charging for ETIAS.
Before you travel: check your days under the 90/180-day rule, travel with the passport your visa is issued in, and allow for border checks taking a little longer.
Official sources
We checked the information on this page against the official sources below. Always confirm the current rules there before you apply.