EU Entry/Exit System (EES): what changed at the border
Since 10 April 2026 the Entry/Exit System is in full use across 29 European countries. Passport stamps are gone; your entries and exits are recorded digitally.
How it works
On first entry, non-EU travellers register at a kiosk or with a border officer: passport scan, facial image and fingerprints. On later trips the system matches the data and records the crossing automatically. Records are stored for three years, and the system calculates how many of the 90 days in any 180-day period you have used.
Timeline
- 12 October 2025: phased rollout began at selected border points.
- 10 April 2026: EES declared fully operational in all participating countries.
Queues
Airport operators and airlines reported waits of up to two hours at peak times after the full rollout. Border authorities could suspend EES checks during the transition period, but that option ended with full operation. Allow extra time at major hubs, especially on the first trip when registration takes longest.
Who is exempt
EU and Schengen citizens, holders of EU residence permits and long-stay visas, and nationals of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City. Ireland and Cyprus do not operate EES.
Source
Last reviewed: 21 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you travel.