Planning A European Vacation This Year? Read This First

Beginning October 2024, entering into or exiting from the European Union (EU) if you’re a non-EU citizen will soon become an automated process.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will target travellers who require a short-stay visa and those who do not need a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days in any 180-day period. The EES will automate border control procedures, making travelling to European countries using the EES more efficient for tourists.

What Does This Mean For You?

The EES is designed to register and monitor the movements of non-EU nationals entering and exiting the Schengen zone for security and migration purposes. Instead of passport stamping, travellers will undergo biometric data collection, including fingerprints and facial images, along with the submission of passport details such as name and nationality. The IT system makes it easier to detect travellers using fake identities or passports, and those who have committed terrorism or criminal offences.

Countries within the Schengen zone (Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) will move to this new system. However, Cyprus and Ireland, despite being EU countries, will continue with their procedure of stamping passports manually.

The move comes after a spike in Schengen visa fees from June 11, 2024, and longer wait times for those travelling to Germany and Italy in obtaining their visas.

For more information on the EES, visit the European Union website.