What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
EES is the EU's digital border record for non-EU nationals on short stays in the Schengen Area, both visa-free visitors and short-stay visa holders. It started on 12 October 2025 and was rolled out gradually over six months. Since 10 April 2026 it has been fully operational at all external border crossing points, and passports are no longer stamped.
Each time you cross a Schengen external border, EES records:
- your name, nationality and travel document,
- your fingerprints and a facial image (taken at your first crossing),
- the date and place of each entry and exit, and any refusal of entry.
Your first crossing takes longer because your biometrics are registered. Later crossings use the record already on file.
Does EES change the 90/180-day rule?
The 90/180 rule is exactly the same: no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, with entry and exit days both counting. What has changed is enforcement:
- The count is automatic. EES works out how many days you have used and flags overstays to border officers. There is no more counting stamps by hand.
- Mistakes are harder to explain away. If your own count differs from the EES record, the record will be the starting point. Keep boarding passes and bookings in case you need to show a date was wrong.
- Overstays are recorded. An overstay is logged in the system, which can lead to fines, refusal of entry and entry bans.
Plan trips with our Schengen 90/180 calculator before you book, especially if you make several medium-length trips a year. See five worked examples of how the rolling window catches people out.
Who has to register in EES?
Non-EU nationals on short stays, whether visa-free or on a short-stay visa. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and people with a Schengen residence permit or long-stay visa, are not registered.
| Traveller | Registered in EES? |
|---|---|
| US, UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens on a short visit | Yes |
| Holders of a short-stay Schengen visa | Yes |
| EU, EEA and Swiss citizens | No |
| Holders of a Schengen country residence permit or long-stay (type D) visa | No |
EES is used at the external borders of the Schengen countries. Ireland and Cyprus don't use it, and days there don't count toward your Schengen 90 days. See how long you can stay in Europe without a visa.
What is ETIAS, and when does it start?
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a separate online travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, similar to the US ESTA or the UK ETA. Once it starts, citizens of countries such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will need an approved ETIAS before travelling to the Schengen Area for a short stay.
- Start date: as of 8 November 2026, the official ETIAS site says the system is not in operation and that the EU will announce the date several months before launch. Travel press has reported a slip into 2027, but no official date has been published.
- Transition: the EU plans a transitional period after launch, followed by a grace period, before travellers without ETIAS are refused boarding.
- Apply only on the official site. Unofficial sites already sell "ETIAS applications" with extra fees.
ETIAS doesn't change how many days you can stay. It's a permission to travel, and the 90/180 rule still applies once you arrive.
What should travellers do now?
- Count your past 180 days before every trip, including planned ones.
- Keep your own record of entries and exits, with evidence.
- Allow extra time at the border for your first EES registration.
- Check the official ETIAS website for its start date before you travel.