EES - Etias

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Have you been refused entry? Is an entry ban imposed when leaving? File an appeal!

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is the European Union's new border management system. The EES replaces the manual stamping of passports by border guards with a new electronic registration system. Every entry and exit of non-EU citizens is registered in the EES through biometric verification.

The EES digitally records the entry and exit, passport data, fingerprints, and facial images of non-EU citizens wishing to stay in the EU for short stay.

Who is registered?

The EES applies to all third-country nationals. This includes all visa-required and visa-exempt non-EU citizens entering for short stay. This also includes citizens of countries such as Canada, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, who do not require a Schengen visa to enter.

What is a short stay? A short stay is a period of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. All travelers arriving for short stay are registered in the EES. The EES automatically keeps track of the number of days you have stayed in the Schengen Area.

Overstay

To prevent overstaying, it is advisable to use the Schengen visa calculator before each trip.

Travelers must be vigilant not to exceed the permitted length of stay of 90 out of 180 days. Exceeding the maximum length of stay can result in an entry ban for the entire European Union and the European Economic Area.

Upon entering the Schengen area, border guards will also check how many days you have remaining. You will only be granted entry for the remaining days.

Were you denied entry?

Were you denied entry upon entry? Do you think this was unjustified?

For example, because you are a family member of an EU citizen? Or because you have a valid residence permit?

Was an entry ban imposed upon exit?

Were you issued an entry ban upon exit? This means you can no longer enter the Schengen Area until the entry ban is lifted. You will be registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS).

We can submit a request for the lifting on your behalf.

Which EU countries are part of the EES?

The following 29 countries are members of the EES: in brief: all EU Member States (without Cyprus and Ireland), Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switserland. These are:

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.

The EES is not the same as ETIAS

The EES is the EU border management system for the EU's external borders. The EES registers the entry and exit of travelers. The EES applies when you arrive at the EU's external border.

The ETIAS is a travel authorization system for visa-exempt non-EU citizens. An ETIAS must be applied for before traveling to the EU. You must receive ETIAS approval before traveling.

First EES Trip: What to Expect at the Border?

When arriving for the first time at an external Schengen border, you will have to complete an enrollment proces in the EES database.

Provide biometrics: your facial image and four fingerprints are taken.
This data is linked to your travel document.

The border checks on a subsequent trip will be faster. This will only involve your document and facial verification, since your data is already registered in the EES database.