The new EES pass system will apply to travelers from third countries who want to enter the European Union. With it, the EU will be able to monitor foreign trips: register entries and exits, and additional information (for example, reasons for entry denial, cases of document fraud, and more). All countries of the European Union and the Schengen Area will have access to this data. They will be updated every three years.
What is EES?
The system that controls entry and exit to EU countries will be an automated registration system for travelers from countries that are not part of the EU and who do not need a visa to enter the EU.
The system will replace conventional stamps—they will no longer be placed in your passport. Instead, at the first entry into one of the 29 European countries, including Schengen Area countries, foreign nationals (including Ukrainian citizens) will submit biometric data—fingerprints and a photo. The EES system will store travel information digitally.
After that, travelers will need to scan their passports or other travel documents at a self-service kiosk every time they cross the EU’s external border. This does not apply to legal residents or those with long-term visas.
The system will work for entry into all EU countries, except Cyprus and Ireland, as well as in four Schengen Area countries that are not EU members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
EES is being implemented to strengthen border security and identify travelers who exceed the permitted stay in the Schengen Area (90 days within 180 days).
The system does not change entry conditions and rules, only the border control process. On your first trip (entry to or exit from the EU), you will need to register directly at the border. The information is recorded in a digital file, which is stored for three years.
Who is covered by the EES system?
EES will apply to everyone arriving in the European Union from non-EU countries for short-term visas or under visa-free entry. With European residence permits or permanent residency, and D-type visas, crossing the border can be done as usual.
What difficulties can be expected after April 10, 2026, when crossing the border with the EU?
Travelers planning a trip to the European Union soon, who have not previously registered with EES, may face delays at the border: border post staff will need to photograph the passport, visa, the traveler themselves, and take fingerprints—all of this is added to the system and synchronized with data in the database.
The process can be sped up: download the official Travel to Europe app and upload some personal information yourself 72 hours before arriving at the border. However, the app currently works in a limited number of countries: it can be used only for EES in Sweden and Portugal—but the coverage area is planned to be expanded.
ETIAS – what is it and how is it related to EES?
Integration of EES is considered a necessary step for launching the ETIAS entry authorization system, which will also require prior online registration from citizens of those countries that do not need a visa to travel to the EU.
EES is connected to the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This new scheme requires non-EU citizens who do not need an EU visa to obtain travel authorization to enter the bloc. The visa waiver will be mandatory for everyone wishing to visit Schengen Area countries for a short term.
Originally, ETIAS was planned to launch in November 2023. Now EU officials have approved a timeline according to which it will start operating in the first half of 2025, according to the news site The Local.
Travelers will be able to apply for ETIAS online before the trip for a fee of 7 euros. Once approved, the electronic travel authorization will be electronically linked to their passport and remain valid for three years.
More details about ETIAS: ETIAS – fee for third country citizens to enter the EU
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