NEWS FLASH
The European Union plans to introduce an Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU citizens on November 10, 2024. On launch, the EES will replace stamps in physical passports by digitally registering the data of non-EU citizens whenever they enter and exit external Schengen borders, to ensure they don’t stay in the Schengen area for more than ninety days in any 180-day period. Travellers will be required to submit fingerprint and face biometrics on their first crossing, while subsequent EES crossings will only require a passport scan at a self-serve kiosk to match the ID document against enrolled biometric data. The new rules will require non-EU citizens to register online prior to travel to the EU, free of charge. There are concerns about potential travel delays due to the new EES. The European Commission has suggested a gradual and flexible introduction of the EES to mitigate initial waiting times. It should be noted that this development is separate from the forthcoming launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is set to go live some time in 2025 following years of delays. It will require visitors from sixty visa-free countries to apply for authorisation ahead of travel to 29 European nations, and to pay a fee of seven euros once every three years.
I still hope they will put stamps if we ask them to :-)
ReplyDeleteI was recently entering Malta (Serbian passport) and the lady at the passport control asked me, have you stayed longer than 90 days in the EU. I said no and asked her, can't you see that in your system, to which she said she can't see how long I have been in the EU... I was really surprised. I thought that sort of data came up when they swipe your passport.
ReplyDeleteSwiping the passport shows if you are on interpol/europol lists, or have a ban on entering EU, not how long have you been there. It's the stamps that tell how long and where you entered and where you exited Schengen. But it's difficult to count and time consuming, ergo...EES.
DeleteInteresting. Had no idea. Funny how technologically advanced society has become yet we still rely on good old stamps :)
DeleteAlmost everything is so low tech here in Malta, despite what they want you to believe.
DeleteMalta will not be ready for EES, and there was even a rumor it might get kicked out of Schengen:
https://timesofmalta.com/article/malta-eu-agree-schengen-tech-delay.1095027
Only data from EU citizens can be infact seen in Schengen information system. Non EU not.
DeleteSo this means slowly they will replace all border checks with egates.
ReplyDeleteNot for minors.
DeleteSo, is this connected to the Schengen area or EU? Will we need EES for both, say, Cyprus and Switzerland?
ReplyDeleteAll EU countries except Cyprus, plus Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland
DeleteThanks.
DeleteHow could you travel by car to Switzerland or Norway without controlling passports
DeleteI can't imagine how fun the rollout will be.
ReplyDeleteEvzoni crossing will be a lot of fun next year
ReplyDeleteThey are not putting stamps in the US last couple of years. You can log in and check all your travel history in and out of the states i past 10 years. I imagine this EU system will be the same. :)
ReplyDeleteNot true. I was in the US in october 2023 and have stamp in my passport from the JFK aurport. But, I traveld to Australia as well last year and there are no stamps in the passport. Everything is automated.
DeleteI have been twice in last two years. No stamps at Miami airport 2022 and no stamps at Seattle airport this year. :)
DeleteBruh, first and the last time we entered EU, passport guy forgot to put my wife into the system, while still stamping her passport. We’ve learned about this during next visa application, embassy assured us that it’s no problem, but in the end we’ve got entry ban for a year. I mean, stamps are annoying but I have no trust in EU border systems.
ReplyDeleteEU is ever moving towards more and more complicated procedures. Brussels just loves complexity and chaos in everugging.
ReplyDeleteLet's see how this goes, doesn't have to be that complicated...
Deletewell, at least now all the plastic bottles have a lid that doesn't get removed, so it can stuck in your face while you drink. The is EU is something else, really
DeleteFinally, delaying this really was a joke.
ReplyDeleteI have been traveling back and forth to US for years and for years this system has existed at both JFK and EWR.
ReplyDeleteI do *NOT* like depending on some stupid computer system. Computer systems fail - because they are programmed by humans and because they are constantly attacked by other humans and because they are also operated by humans. I don't see why they can't put it in the system AND put a stamp in the passport. When I have a stamp in the passport, I have a forever proof that something happened that doesn't depend on whether CrowdStrike failed or whether my border control officer had a brain fart and pushed a wrong button while thinking about sexting their new GF
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree Anon 17:41 Not to forget to mention all the digital controls they’ll be putting in soon after to deny you access to the EU if you’ve exceeded your allotted carbon credits for travel… Enjoy the digital prisons sheeple!
Delete@anon 03:05 and the solution to this potential denial is?
ReplyDeleteStupid idea.
ReplyDeleteThis is targeting 90 in 180 day stays of illegal workers. If they manage to ban this totally (not like until now), it will at least temporarily affect loads on Wizz Air flights as bunch of their clientele is coming from this group...
ReplyDelete