New requirements to pass the external borders of Europe: EES

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

In Cyprus and Ireland, passports will continue to be stamped manually.

• The EES will gradually replace passport stamps with a digital system that records when travellers enter and exit, making border checks faster.
• If you have crossed the borders of the European countries using the EES more than once since the EES started, your fingerprints or the photo of your face will already be recorded in the EES. The passport control officers will only verify your fingerprints and photo, which will take less time.
• If you hold a biometric passport, you will be able to enter more quickly using the self-service system (if available at that border crossing point).
• Provide precise information to non-EU nationals regarding the maximum duration of their stay in the territory of the European countries using the EES. An online ‘Web Service’ tool will enable such travellers to check the remaining duration of their authorised stay
• The EES will give border officers and law enforcement authorities access to important traveller information, helping them to spot security risks and support the fight against serious crimes and terrorism.

Travellers to whom the EES does not apply to

• Nationals of European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland;
• Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national;
• Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen;
• Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing;
• Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas;
• Nationals of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See;
• People exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (such as heads of state, cross-border workers, etc.);
• People not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours;
• People holding a valid local border traffic permit;
• Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys;
• People holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State.

Visit the EU website to learn more about the grounds for an exemption from the EES.

The Travel to Europe mobile application is designed for non-EU travellers who are subject to EES registration. It allows people to pre-register their passport data and facial image before reaching a border crossing point where the EES is in use. Through the app travellers can also fill in the entry conditions questionnaire in advance. This mobile application is not yet available for travelling to the Netherlands.

Visit the EU website to learn more about The Travel to Europe app.