The digital Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational on 10 April 2026. The system is used at the external borders of all EU member states (with the exception of Cyprus and Ireland), in addition to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The EES digitally records the entries and exits of individuals travelling to the Schengen area for a short stay (up to 90 days within any 180-day period). Exempt from this requirement are, among others, citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, in addition to holders of residence permits and visas for long-term stays.

The EES does not change entry and residence requirements. The changes only affect procedures at border control points; travellers themselves do not need to take any further action:

• Upon entry, in addition to personal information and travel document details, biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) are collected.
• Travel documents will no longer be stamped manually. Entries and exits will be recorded digitally in compliance with European data protection law.
• At selected airports, travellers will find self-service systems to speed up the process.

Further information is available on the website of the European Union.