EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is Europe’s new border management IT system that records biometric data, as well as entry and exit dates, to register non-EU nationals travelling for short stays.
What is EES ?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU-wide, automated system that digitally records the entry and exit of non-EU/Schengen nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen area.
It replaces physical passport stamps with a secure digital record.
European countries using the EES are gradually introducing the system at their external borders. This means that data collection will be implemented step by step at border crossing points. At Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport, the system will be rolled out for departures from early 2026 and will become fully operational on 10 April 2026.
Who is concerning
- Non-EU nationals (including UK, US, Canadian, Australian travelers, etc.) entering the Schengen Area for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period), will be registered in the EES.
Schengen Area countries : France + Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
What travelers should expect
■ If you are crossing the border for the first time since the EES started
You will need to provide some personal data. Passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints the first time you enter the Schengen Area. This information will be securely stored in a digital file.
On future trips, the system will automatically match your new data with your stored biometrics, making border checks faster and easier.
You can make the process quicker by registering some of your data in advance. At Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, self-service kiosks are available where you can scan your passport, have your face photographed, and provide your fingerprints before reaching passport control. This helps speed up the process.
■ If you have crossed EES borders more than once
If you have already crossed the borders of European countries using the EES since its introduction, your face photo and/or fingerprints will already be recorded in the system. Passport control officers will simply verify your biometric data, which takes less time. In rare cases, it may be necessary to collect and record your data again.
If you hold a biometric passport, you can use the e-Gates for faster entry.