The EES Europe is an “Exit/Entry system in the EU countries that keeps digital and automated records of entry and exit of travelers of third countries. The system works for both short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travelers whenever they use the EU’s external borders.
The EES is expected to be rolled out in the EU region till the end of 2024. This will indeed help end the 150-year-old style of checking and stamping the passport manually at the airports. According to the European Union website,
“It makes it easier to detect travelers using fake identities or passports. Finally, the EES helps to prevent, detect, and investigate terrorist offenses or other serious criminal offenses.”
When will EES start?
On 20 November 2017, the EES Regulation, together with a targeted amendment of the Schengen Border Code was adopted. These regulations entered into force on 29 December 2017. The EES is expected to be rolled out in the EU region till the end of 2024.
What does EES record?
The EES records the following details:
- the person’s name,
- type of travel document,
- refusal of entry,
- biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images), and
- the date and place of entry and exit, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection.
What are EES Countries?
Currently, 29 countries in Europe use the Entry/Exit System (EES). 25 of them are member states whereas Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Iceland also use the system. Ireland and Cyprus will keep on using the old passport stamp system.
| Austria | Estonia | Hungary | Luxembourg | Romania |
| Belgium | Iceland | Malta | Slovakia | |
| Bulgaria | Finland | Italy | Netherlands | Slovenia |
| Croatia | France | Latvia | Norway | Spain |
| Czechia | Germany | Liechtenstein | Poland | Sweden |
| Denmark | Greece | Lithuania | Portugal | Switzerland |
Benefits of EES in Europe
The EES will help in terms of:
- ease of travel for the third countries national without queues and long waiting times;
- it will prevent irregular migration;
- it will efficiently help protect the security of the EU Citizens;
- it will help identify documents and identity fraud; and
- the system will help wider use of automated border control checks and self-service systems.
What is the difference between EES and ETIAS?
The ETIAS allows visa-free travelers to apply for travel authorization before starting their trip. ETIAS is not a vis and its introduction will not change the visa-free status. On the other hand, the EES records entry and exit of the short stay of visa-free and visa-required travelers of third countries.
Other countries using automated EES
Many countries in the world have already started using Entry/Exit systems such as Singapore from 2019 and Australia from 2012. Australia in addition also uses electronic visas which are not labeled on the passport and this makes using automated systems for immigration records easier. Some of the other countries using the system are Canada, the US, New Zealand, Argentina, China, and Qatar.