Last updated: August 2026
The European Entry/Exit System is now fully operational. It was introduced gradually from October 12, 2025 and has been fully in use since April 10, 2026.
Officially known as the Entry/Exit System, or EES, it digitally registers certain non-EU travelers whenever they cross the external borders of 29 participating European countries.
The system records short-stay entries, exits and entry refusals. For travelers registered in the EES, these digital records generally replace manual passport stamps.
The EES does not introduce a new visa or change the general conditions for entering Germany. It changes how border crossings and the permitted duration of short stays are recorded.
What the Entry/Exit System does
The EES is an automated European border management system.
It records information when an affected traveler:
enters one of the participating countries
leaves the participating area
is refused entry at an external border
The system helps border authorities identify:
travelers who have exceeded their permitted short stay
people using false identities or travel documents
travelers who do not meet the entry conditions
previous entry refusals
It also calculates how many days a traveler has used under the short-stay rule of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
The European Entry/Exit System does not apply when you travel between two participating countries without crossing an external border. For example, a flight from France to Germany normally takes place within the shared travel area and does not create a new EES entry.
The relevant registration generally happens when you first enter or finally leave the participating European area.
→ Check the official EU information about the EES
Which countries use the EES?
The system is used by 29 European countries:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czechia
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
This group includes 25 EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Cyprus and Ireland do not use the EES. Passports continue to be stamped manually there according to the applicable border rules.
The European Entry/Exit System is therefore not simply used by every EU country. It applies at the external borders of the specific countries participating in the system.
Who is registered in the EES?
The EES generally applies to non-EU nationals traveling to one of the participating countries for a short stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
It covers both:
travelers who need a Schengen short-stay visa
travelers who can visit without a visa
For EES purposes, non-EU nationals are travelers who do not hold the nationality of:
an EU member state
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
Switzerland
The system can therefore affect visa-free travelers from countries such as:
the United Kingdom
the United States
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Serbia
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Moldova
Georgia
Ukraine
This list provides examples only. Visa requirements and exemptions depend on nationality, travel documents and personal status.
The European Entry/Exit System can apply regardless of whether you are visiting for tourism, a family visit or a permitted short business trip. The purpose of travel must still be allowed under the normal short-stay rules.
EES registration does not give you permission to begin regular employment in Germany.
Who is exempt?
Several groups are exempt from EES registration.
The most common exemptions include:
citizens of EU member states
citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
holders of valid residence permits issued by participating European countries
holders of valid national long-stay visas issued by participating European countries
certain non-EU family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who hold the required residence document
certain beneficiaries of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement who hold the required document
additional groups covered by specific EU rules or international arrangements
A national long-stay visa is generally a visa allowing residence for more than 90 days, such as a German visa for employment, study or family reunification.
A short-stay Schengen visa does not create an exemption. Travelers using such a visa are generally registered in the EES.
Do not assume that every document described informally as an “EU residence card” creates an exemption. The exact type, issuing country and legal basis of the document matter.
Travelers who are uncertain about their document can check the official EES exemption information or contact the responsible border or consular authority before traveling.
→ Check the official EES exemptions
What happens during your first EES registration?
Your first border crossing after becoming subject to the system can involve more steps than a traditional passport check.
Border authorities may collect:
your name
date of birth
nationality
travel document details
date and location of entry or exit
a facial image
fingerprints, where applicable
You will also go through the normal border check.
Depending on the airport, port or land border, you may be able to enter some information through:
a self-service system
an electronic kiosk
an official mobile application supported by the country
These options do not replace the border check. A passport control officer can still review your documents, ask questions and collect or verify information.
The European Entry/Exit System may make the first registration longer because a digital file and biometric record must be created.
You should allow additional time, particularly at busy airports, ferry terminals and land borders.
The exact process depends on the country, border crossing and equipment available.
What happens on later trips?
Once your information has been registered, border authorities can normally compare you with the existing EES record on later journeys.
They may verify:
your passport information
your facial image
your fingerprints
This will usually require fewer registration steps than the first crossing.
In rare cases, information may need to be collected again. Border officers can also repeat checks whenever necessary.
Travelers with biometric passports may be able to use automated border control systems where they are available and where the traveler meets the conditions for using them.
A previous EES registration does not guarantee faster processing every time. Queues, technical systems and additional checks can still affect the duration of a border crossing.
Are children registered?
Children who are subject to the EES are also registered.
Their travel document information, facial image and entry or exit information may be recorded.
Children under 12 are not required to provide fingerprints.
Traveling families should still allow enough time for the registration and normal border control process.
The documents normally required for children, including any evidence related to parental consent or custody, remain separate from the EES procedure.
Does the EES replace passport stamps?
For affected travelers, digital EES records generally replace passport stamps at the external borders of the 29 participating countries.
This means you may no longer receive a visible entry or exit stamp in your passport when crossing an EES border.
Cyprus and Ireland are not part of the system and continue to stamp passports manually according to their rules.
The absence of a stamp does not mean that your stay is not being recorded. Your entry and exit information is stored digitally.
It remains sensible to keep your own travel records, including:
boarding passes
travel confirmations
accommodation details
copies of relevant tickets
These records can help you reconstruct your travel history if you believe that information in the system is incomplete or incorrect.
Does the EES change the 90/180-day rule?
No. The existing short-stay rule remains the same.
Most affected short-stay travelers can spend no more than 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the countries using the common short-stay rules.
The European Entry/Exit System records your entries and exits and calculates the authorized period electronically. It can identify when no exit was registered or when the permitted stay was exceeded.
You remain responsible for checking how many days you are allowed to stay.
The calculation is not simply based on 90 days in each country. Time spent in the participating area is generally considered together.
For example, spending 40 days in Germany and then 30 days in France normally uses 70 days of the same permitted short-stay period.
A residence permit or national long-stay visa can create different rules for time spent in the country that issued it. Short visits to other countries may still be subject to the 90/180-day calculation.
Use the official EU short-stay calculator or seek clarification from the responsible authority if your travel history is complex.
What data does the EES store?
The EES can store:
personal information from your travel document
travel document details
facial images
fingerprints, where applicable
dates and locations of entry
dates and locations of exit
records of refused entry
Travelers using a Schengen short-stay visa may already have fingerprints recorded in the Visa Information System. The way biometric information is used can therefore differ from the process for visa-free travelers.
The official retention periods depend on the type of record.
In general:
entry, exit and refusal records are retained for three years
the personal file is generally retained for three years and one day
information may be retained for five years if no exit was recorded after the permitted stay expired
Different rules can apply in specific situations, including for certain family members of people exercising freedom of movement rights.
Travelers have data protection rights, including the right to request access to their information and to ask for inaccurate data to be corrected. Under certain conditions, they may also request that unlawfully stored information be deleted.
→ Read the official information about data held by the EES
EES registration does not guarantee entry
The EES changes the registration process. It does not remove the normal entry requirements.
Depending on your nationality and circumstances, you may still need to show:
a valid passport
a valid short-stay visa
the purpose of your trip
proof of accommodation
sufficient financial resources
return or onward travel arrangements
supporting documents for a business visit
travel medical insurance, where required
Border officers may ask questions about:
where you will stay
how long you intend to remain
what you plan to do
how you will finance the visit
when and how you will leave
Entry can still be refused if the normal conditions are not met. The EES then records the refusal electronically.
Registration should therefore not be confused with authorization to enter.
Traveling for an interview or business visit
The EES may apply when you enter Germany for a permitted short business visit, conference, meeting or job interview.
However, EES registration does not determine whether a particular professional activity is permitted during a short stay.
A short visit generally does not authorize you to:
begin regular employment
perform ordinary work for a German employer
remain in Germany for more than the permitted short stay
move to Germany permanently
The distinction between a permitted business activity and employment can depend on the exact activity and circumstances.
If you need a binding assessment of whether a planned activity is permitted, contact the responsible German mission or consult a licensed German immigration lawyer.
The EES and ETIAS are different
The EES and ETIAS are often mentioned together, but they perform different functions.
The EES
The EES:
operates at the border
registers certain non-EU short-stay travelers
records entries, exits and entry refusals
uses travel document and biometric information
applies to both visa-free and visa-required short-stay travelers
has been fully operational since April 10, 2026
ETIAS
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, or ETIAS:
will be required before travel
will apply mainly to visa-free non-EU travelers
will involve an online application
will not be a visa
is not yet operational
is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026
As of August 2026, the EU is not accepting ETIAS applications and has not announced the exact start date.
You do not need to apply yet.
Avoid websites claiming that they can already submit an ETIAS application or obtain an authorization for you. Use only the official European Union website once applications open.
The European Entry/Exit System is already active, while ETIAS remains a future pre-travel requirement.
→ Check the official ETIAS status
How to prepare before traveling
Before traveling to Germany or another participating country:
Check whether your nationality requires a short-stay visa.
Confirm that your passport remains valid for the required period.
Carry your residence permit or long-stay visa if you believe you are exempt.
Allow additional time for your first EES registration.
Keep documents explaining the purpose of your trip.
Check how many short-stay days you have already used.
Keep your own record of entries and exits.
Check the official EU website shortly before departure for procedural updates.
Do not assume that an airline’s document check replaces the decision made by border authorities.
Planning a longer move to Germany
The EES covers short stays. It is not a route for moving to Germany.
If you plan to work, study, complete vocational training, join family members or live in Germany for more than 90 days, you will normally need to consider a German national visa or residence procedure.
Once you hold an eligible German long-stay visa or residence permit, you are generally exempt from EES registration when traveling with that document.
During the Germany Immigration Call, we can discuss the published difference between short visits and longer residence routes, organize the information you have collected and identify the official procedures to research next.
The call does not include a legal assessment of whether a specific passport, visa or residence document creates an EES exemption. It also does not determine whether a particular business or professional activity is permitted during a short stay.
→ Book the Germany Immigration Call
Get updates about travel and immigration to Germany
ETIAS is expected to introduce another change for visa-free travelers later in 2026.
My newsletter shares one or two relevant updates per month about moving, working and living in Germany, including important changes to entry and immigration procedures.
Subscribers also receive new versions of the German Employer List when they are released.
This article provides general travel and immigration information. It does not determine whether a particular traveler is subject to or exempt from EES registration, whether an individual meets the conditions for entry or whether a planned activity is permitted during a short stay. Check the official EU information and contact the responsible authority for a binding answer.
