When traveling to new countries, irregular immigration often occurs. In order to prevent issues and create effective border management, the European Union has introduced a new scheme called the Entry/Exit System (EES). The Entry/Exit System will come into effect by the end of in May 2025.
What Is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated system that registers travelers from non-EU countries, both short-stay visa holders and visa-free travelers, entering and exiting any border of the EU. EES will replace the manual practice of stomping passports. The system will register your name, biometric data, and the time and place of entry and exit.
What Are the Objectives of the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The objectives of the EES are divided into two parts: recording and storing data and granting access to authorities.
By recording and storing data in the EES, the objectives are to:
- Enhance the efficiency of the border checks by calculating and monitoring the duration of the authorized stay.
- Assist in identifying third-country nationals who do not or no longer meet the conditions for entry.
- Identify overstayers.
- Allow refusals of entry in the EES to be checked electronically.
- Allow automation of border checks on third-country nationals.
- Allow visa authorities to have access to information on the lawful use of the previous visas.
- Inform third-country nationals for the duration of their stay.
- Combat identity fraud and misuse of travel documents.
- Obtain statistics on third-country nationals’ entry and exit, refusals of entry, and overstays in order to improve the assessment of overstay risks and support evidence-based migration policy.
By granting access to appointed authorities, the objectives of the EES are to:
- Contribute to preventing, detecting, and investigating terrorist attacks or other serious criminal acts.
- Provide information for investigations of terrorist offenses and other serious crimes, including identifying perpetrators, suspects, and victims of those crimes who have crossed external borders.
How Does the Entry/Exit System (EES) Work?
The European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and freedom (eu-LISA) is responsible for developing and managing the EES. The EES will be operated at external borders.
The EES will consist of the following:
- A Central System.
- A National Uniform Interface (NUI), which will be connected to the Central System through a secure and encrypted Communication Infrastructure. Each member of the EES will have an NUI.
- A Secure Communication Channel between the EES and Visa Information System (VIS).
- A data repository in order to enable the generation of statistics and reporting.
- A web service installed at external borders, enabling you to have access to information.
In addition, when you approach the border, you must follow these steps:
- Step 1: Go to the EES device.
- Step 2: Scan the first page of your biometric passport.
- Step 3: Face the camera when the automatic gate opens.
- Step 4: Keep still until the device captures their photograph and compares it with the documents and data stored on the EES.
- Step 5: Walk through the second gates.
How Does the EES Collect Data?
When you use the EES to enter or exit European countries, the EES collects personal data, including the date and time of entry or exit. The data will be registered electronically in the system.
The border-crossing point will provide clear information in writing about the EES and your related rights if you are a non-EU citizen traveling to a European country for a short stay (maximum 90 days in any 180 days). Data is collected and processed to manage migration flows, preventing irregular immigration, and preventing irregular immigration.
What Data Will the EES Collect?
The EES collects:
- The data listed in your travel document:
- Your full name.
- Date of birth.
- Nationality.
- Sex.
- The type and number of your travel document.
- The date of expiry of your travel document.
- The three-letter code of the issuing country of the travel document.
- The date and place of entry and exit from the European country using the EES.
- The biometric data, including facial image and fingerprints.*
- The refusal of entry (if applicable).
- Your personal data, depending on your situation, from:
- The Visa Information System (VIS) data.
- The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) data.
*The fingerprints of non-EU nationals who enter the EU countries without a visa and using the EES will be stored in the EES. However, if you are required to apply for a visa, your fingerprints are stored in the VIS and will not be held again in the EES.
How Long Does the EES Keep Your Personal Data?
The EES will keep your personal data for the following durations:
- The records of entries, exits, and refusals of entries will be stored for three years starting when the information is initially stored.
- The personal information will be stored for three years and one day starting on the date of your last exit.
- If you have yet to exit the territory, the data will be stored for five years starting from the date of the authorized period of stay.
Note: The data will be erased automatically each time the period ends.
Who Can Access Your Personal Data?
Access to your personal data is restricted. Only a few essential people can access your data:
- The authorities in European countries who are using the EES. Those authorities include the border, visa, and immigration authorities in order to verify your identity.
- The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) for law enforcement purposes.
- Carriers will have access only to information such as whether you have used the number of entries.
Nevertheless, in some cases, under strict conditions, your data may be transferred to another state or international organization for return or law enforcement.
Which Countries Are Subject to the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
All non-EU or Schengen countries, including the UK, are subject to the EES. Furthermore, the EES applies to all travelers visiting the Schengen Area for any travel purpose, both short- and long-stay.
In addition, the EES includes nationals that are:
- From visa-exempt countries.
- From visa-required countries, and
- Those who were refused to enter the Schengen Area for short-stay visits.
What Are the Benefits of the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The benefits of the Entry/Exit System are as follows:
- Replace the manual practice of stamping passports, which is time-consuming.
- Expose people who overstay.
- Help third-country nationals travel more efficiently.
- Inform third-country nationals of the duration of their authorized stay.
- Identify people with greater accuracy.
- Identify third-country nationals who do not meet entry requirements.
- Help detect terrorist activities or other criminal offenses.
- Not discriminate against people.
- Identify identity and document fraud.
- The number of immigration officials will decrease.
- Ensure an optimal level of internal security.
- Improve general security measures.
How Does the Entry/Exit System (EES) Protect My Privacy as a Traveler?
Using the latest technology, the EES will protect your privacy. Access to EES data will be restricted to immigration or embassy staff from each member state. It is only authorized personnel, such as border officials, visa authorities, and immigration officers, have access to the Entry/Exit System for input, amendment, deletion, and consultation of information on travelers.
Likewise, member states can access the data only to prevent, detect, or investigate terrorist threats or other criminal acts.
What Rights Do I Have Regarding My Personal Data?
Regarding your personal data, you have the right to:
- Request access to your data from the controller.
- Request to correct any inaccuracies or incomplete information.
- You may request that unlawfully processed personal data concerning you be erased and/or restricted from further processing.
In addition, if you have any complaints about your personal data, you can make a complaint to:
- The supervisory authority of the European country using the EES.
- The European Data Protection Supervisor for matters relating to data processing by European Agencies.
What Happens If I Overstay in the Schengen Area?
If you stay longer than allowed in the Schengen Area, you will be identified as an “overstayer”. Your data will be added to a list, and the competent national authorities will have access to it. The consequences that will apply to you depend on the national legislation of the country using the EES. Nevertheless, the usual consequences include the following:
- You will be removed from the territory.
- You will be subject to detention or fines.
- You will be prevented from re-entering the EU.
However, sometimes you can be removed from the list. This will happen if you provide credible proof to the border authorities or immigration authorities that the reason for overstaying was due to unforeseen circumstances.
What Other EU Border Management Information Systems Exist?
Besides EES, the EU has developed other centralized information systems:
- The Schengen Information System (SIS).
- The Visa Information System (VIS).
- The European Asylum Dactyloscopy Database (EURODAC).
- The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)*
*ETIAS is expected to launch in May 2025.