As of April 10, 2026, crossing into the European Union is no longer what it used to be. The passport stamp is becoming history, replaced by a digital record of your face and fingerprints. For travelers from non-EU countries, this means a new procedure — slightly longer on the first entry, but more precise afterwards.
What is EES and why was it introduced
EES or Entry/Exit System is a unified European Union database that automatically records every crossing of the Schengen external border for citizens of third countries. Its purpose is twofold: accurate tracking of length of stay and combating the falsification of travel documents. Every entry and exit is now recorded electronically, so there is no more guessing about the day you entered the Schengen Area.
Who does it apply to
The system applies to all citizens of countries that are not members of the EU or Schengen. This includes travelers from the Balkans, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries. EU and Schengen citizens are not subject to registration. Children under 12 years of age do not give fingerprints, but a biometric facial photo is taken for them as well.
What the procedure at the border crossing looks like
On your first entry into any of the 29 countries that apply EES, the border officer or self-service device collects several pieces of data at once:
- biometric facial photo
- fingerprints of four fingers from one hand
- data from the travel document
- date, time, and place of entry
The entire process takes a few minutes longer than before. Once the data is entered, on subsequent entries a quick biometric check is sufficient — often just a facial scan at the gate or re-scanning of a fingerprint.
How long the data remains in the system
Once registered, your profile is valid for three years from the first entry or until the expiration of your passport — whichever comes first. After expiration, a full registration is performed again on your next crossing. All data is stored in accordance with European data protection rules and is used exclusively for border control and prevention of misuse.
If your passport expires before the three-year profile in the system expires, you must renew it and then go through a new registration on your next entry. The old profile automatically becomes invalid upon expiration of the document.
The 90/180 day rule is now calculated automatically
The permitted stay for third-country nationals in Schengen remains the same: maximum 90 days in any 180-day period. The difference is that this is no longer calculated manually or by passport stamps — the system does it for both the traveler and the border officer. Exceeding the limit results in automatic marking in the database, possible fines, and a ban on entering Schengen for a certain period. That’s why it’s smart to keep your own travel records, especially if you cross the border frequently.
Crowds and travel preparation
The first weeks of full implementation showed what was expected — longer queues at major airports and land crossings than before. Some European airports experienced multi-hour delays at times. Therefore, it’s worth keeping a few things in mind:
- arrive at the airport earlier than usual, especially during peak season
- check if your passport has a biometric chip — most passports issued after 2006 have one
- have your accommodation reservation and return ticket ready — they may be requested at the border
- if traveling by car, check whether smaller border crossings have shorter queues than the main ones
There is an official European app for pre-registering data 72 hours before travel. It is useful to check whether the country you are going to supports this option — pre-registration can significantly shorten waiting times at the border itself.
KeepValid as your digital deadline reminder
Among the data that is now even more important are the passport expiration date and the three-year registration period in the system. KeepValid allows you to keep all travel documents in one place with automatic expiration reminders. When the app warns you in time that your passport is expiring, you have enough time to renew it before traveling — and thus avoid both a new system registration and unpleasant surprises at the border.
- Passport valid for at least six months from the return date
- Passport has a biometric chip (issued after 2006)
- Digital copies of all documents in a safe place
- Accommodation reservation and return ticket at hand
- Time for biometric registration on first entry
- Pre-registration through the official app if available
- Awareness of the number of days used out of the allowed 90 in 180
- Arrive at the airport earlier than in the previous period
- Passport expiration entered with a reminder at least three months in advance
- ID card and driver’s license expiration tracked in the same place
- Travel insurance expiration linked to travel dates
- Three-year system registration period entered as a reminder
Digital borders are changing the way we travel, but not its essence — good preparation remains the key to a peaceful trip. When all deadlines are in one place, there are no surprises in the passport control line.