EES (Entry/Exit system): New requirements to travel to Europe

Author: Axel Strauss
Date: 04/01/2024
Modified on : 15/10/2025

On June 14th, 1985 - in a small town called Schengen in southeastern Luxembourg - France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed what’s commonly known as the Schengen Agreement. Said agreement (also known as the Schengen treaty) was designed to abolish border checks and thereby facilitate easier migratory movement between those five countries. In the decades that followed, more and more European nations chose to become Schengen countries (including most of the European Union, for example). And all this has made travel for the majority of Europeans today relatively stress-free.

However, ever since 2016, the EU has been planning to tighten up security somewhat. Namely, with the introduction of two new border control systems: ETIAS and EES. You can follow the link above to learn about the former. Meanwhile, AXA has all you need to know about the latter below.

How are the EU's borders controlled?

So the European Commission states that, “since no checks are carried out at the borders between the Schengen Member States, EU countries have decided to join forces to attain the objective of improving security through efficient external border controls.”

EU countries, therefore, have “a single set of common rules that govern external border checks on persons, entry requirements, and duration of short stays in the Schengen Area.” To that end, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency — aka Frontex — “supports EU and Schengen countries in the management of the EU’s external borders and the fight against cross-border crime.”

In other words, Frontex, with the cooperation of local Schengen Member State agencies, provides security for the EU. And it will, therefore, also be a key player in the EU’s implementation of EES.

What is EES?

EES itself, meanwhile, is simply an abbreviation for Entry/Exit System. The European Commission — i.e., its creators — describe it as “an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals traveling for a short stay each time they cross the external borders of European countries.”

The system will register the traveler’s name, biometric data (i.e., fingerprints and facial scan), and the date and place of entry and exit. The facial scans and fingerprint data, meanwhile, will be retained for up to three years after each trip.

NOTE: EES will apply to both travelers who need a short-stay visa and those who do not.

PRO-TIP: Not sure if you need a visa? No worries! AXA can help you answer one of the most common European travel questions in the world in no time, which is:

Do I need a Schengen visa?

What is the purpose of EES?

The European Commission states that “the main advantage of the EES is saving time.” Because, essentially, it replaces traditional passport stamping and “automate border control procedures, making traveling to European countries more efficient for the traveler.”

But the European Commission then goes on to say that the EES “also makes it easier to identify travelers who have no right to enter or who have stayed in European countries for too long.” And that it “makes it easier to detect travelers using fake identities or passports” and “helps to prevent, detect and investigate terrorist offenses or other serious criminal offenses.”

In other words, another key component of EES is, of course, added safety and security — both for the EU and its visitors.

Who is affected by this new system?

Well, basically, anyone and everyone who is not a citizen or legal resident of either the EU or the Schengen zone. That is, all “third-country nationals” - aka any travelers who enter from outside the EU/Schengen zone for a short stay (of up to 90 days in any 180-day period) - must register through EES when crossing the external EU border.

IMPORTANT: And that’s whether you need a Schengen visa to enter or not, by the way!

However, EES does not apply to holders of Schengen and/or EU residence permits and diplomats.

PRO-TIP: AXA can help you understand the (often somewhat confusing) 90/180-day Schengen visa rule too!

How will the border checks work in practice?

In terms of what EES will look like for “third-country nationals” upon arrival at the external Schengen border, here’s a basic breakdown of what to expect:

  • Passport stamping is replaced by digital recording

  • Travelers provide fingerprints and facial image at electronic border gates or manual booths

  • If all is well, said travelers enter the Schengen/EU

Of course, there’s no way of telling if all this means longer or shorter lines at the airport just yet. But if you’re traveling to Europe any time soon, you should definitely expect some sort of delays as the process is rolled out, implemented from country to country, accustomed to (by both travelers and border guards), and automated systems become the norm across the EU/Schengen zone.

Which countries are using EES?

EES will apply to travelers entering all EU member states — apart from Cyprus and Ireland — as well as four non-EU countries in the Schengen Area: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Here’s a full list of all 29 countries that will be implementing EES (courtesy of the EU):

  • AUSTRIA

  • BELGIUM

  • BULGARIA

  • CROATIA

  • THE CZECH REPUBLIC

  • DENMARK

  • ESTONIA

  • FINLAND

  • FRANCE

  • GERMANY

  • GREECE

  • HUNGARY

  • ICELAND

  • ITALY

  • LATVIA

  • LIECHTENSTEIN

  • LITHUANIA

  • LUXEMBOURG

  • MALTA

  • THE NETHERLANDS

  • NORWAY

  • POLAND

  • PORTUGAL

  • ROMANIA

  • SLOVAKIA

  • SLOVENIA

  • SPAIN

  • SWEDEN

  • SWITZERLAND

Is EES the same as ETIAS?

No. According to the European Commission, “both systems aim to strengthen European security and the security of those who travel.” But there are a few key differences.

For example, ETIAS is an entry requirement for travelers who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen countries and Cyprus. And ETIAS will require visa-free travelers to apply for a travel authorization before starting their trip.

PRO-TIP: The European Commission adds that “ETIAS is not a visa, and its introduction does not modify the visa-free status of travelers.”

Meanwhile, EES will register visa-free and visa-required travelers entering Europe for a short stay upon their arrival in the EU. So “no action will be required from travelers before they start their trip, as registration will be done at the external border of any of the European countries using the system.”

Furthermore, as of July 2025, registration with ETIAS is set to cost travelers 20€ (according to the official ETIAS website) - which is a 13€ increase from the EU’s projected cost in previous years.

How much will EES cost?

Fortunately, registration with EES is still set to be free. But double-check with the official channels above.

When will EES be implemented?

This is the tricky part — and one that has been causing a bit of controversy on the internet. Because while the European Commission does state that “the main advantage of the EES is saving time,” both ETIAS and EES have already been postponed multiple times since their original inception in 2016.

For example, on June 6th, 2023, the European Commission stated that “ETIAS and the EES will not be launched at the same time,” and that “the EES will become operational first and ETIAS will follow a few months after.”

However, that didn’t happen. Instead - and for the rest of 2023, all of 2024, and most of 2025 - the EU’s official website simply had “TBC” (i.e., ”to be confirmed”) under the category “When will the EES become operational.”

Then, in the summer of 2025, the EES homepage suddenly hit the world with the following:

“The new Entry/Exit System (EES) will start operations on 12 October 2025. European countries using the EES will introduce the system gradually at their external borders. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026.”

So while skepticism is completely understandable, it does seem that the EU is making progress.

IMPORTANT (AND FINAL) PRO-TIP: Still, given both EES’ and ETIAS’ track records thus far, AXA highly recommends you triple-check with the official sources above before you travel (and remember that, in this particular case, we’re just the messenger!).

Do I need travel insurance to apply for EES/ETIAS approval?

No. Having travel and/or medical insurance is not a requirement to be eligible for ETIAS/EES authorization (although it is mandatory for obtaining a Schengen Visa).

However, it’s definitely never a bad call to have your trip to the EU insured. Especially since the EU itself is obviously trying to up its levels of overall security in recent years.

Fortunately, AXA’s Schengen travel insurance plans already require zero passport stamping!

But that’s just one of the countless benefits of protecting your trip with AXA. Want to know the rest?

Compare all of AXA’s Schengen travel insurance options

and

get a free zero-obligation AXA quote!

Because, ultimately, no matter how the EU’s border controls evolve in the coming years, a solid AXA plan is guaranteed to keep you and your family in good hands every step of the way!

Related topics:

FAQ

Which EU countries are exempt from EES?

The two countries currently in the EU that will not require EES approval are Cyprus and Ireland. However, this might change by the time EES is fully implemented.

Is ETIAS the same as a visa?

No. ETIAS authorization is not a visa. Unlike Schengen Visas, ETIAS authorization will be valid for an unlimited number of entries, for example.

Can an ETIAS travel authorization be revoked?

Yes. Authorization can be revoked if the conditions for issuing your ETIAS no longer apply or if you are found to have violated any of the ETIAS rules and regulations.