Since October 2025, a system for managing external borders, i.e. EES, has been implemented in 25 EU countries, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. This system allows for the registration of non-EU citizens coming to the EU for a short stay.
1. Digital system
EEE stands for Entry/Exit system. This name was given to the system for managing the external borders of the 25 EU Member States, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It became operational on 12 October 2025 and will be implemented gradually. The system will be fully operational on 10 April 2026.
The main task of the EES is to prevent illegal migration into the territory of the countries covered by the System. It also aims to improve border controls.
The EES registers non-EU citizens who come to EU countries for a short stay. A short stay is defined as a stay lasting no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
The obligation to register with the EES is independent of whether the traveller holds a short-stay visa or benefits from visa-free travel.
2. Exception to the obligation to register with the EES
Not all non-EU citizens are required to register with the EES. The obligation in question doesn’t apply to the following categories of persons:
- citizens of countries using the EES, as well as of Cyprus and Ireland;
- non-EU citizens who hold a residence card and are directly related to an EU national;
- nationals of non-EU countries who hold a residence card or residence permit and are directly related to a non-EU citizen who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen;
- non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, study, training, volunteering, student exchange programmes or educational projects, as well as of taking up an au pair placement;
- persons holding residence permits and long-stay visas;
- citizens of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, as well as persons holding passports issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See;
- persons or categories of persons exempt from border checks or benefiting from special rules in relation to border checks (e.g. heads of state, accredited diplomats);
- persons benefiting from a derogation from the obligation to cross external borders only at border crossing points and during their fixed opening hours;
- persons holding a valid local border traffic permit;
- crew members of international passenger and freight trains;
- persons who present a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or a valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided that the transist takes place by train and these persons don’t disembark on the territory of a Member State.
3. National facilitation programmes
Countries covered by the EES System may introduce national facilitation programmes for non-EU nationals who frequently travel to the EU. The implementation of such a programme isn’t mandatory. Therefore, it is up to a given State to decide whether to introduce such a programme. Furthermore, a national facilitation programme implemented in one country doesn’t apply in another.
If a specific person is covered by a national facilitation programme, he/she won’t be checked by border control officers in matters of:
- entry and exit points;
- purpose of the stay and documents confirming this purpose, if necessary;
- having sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the planned stay, as well as for the purpose of returning to the country of origin or departure to a third country.
Access to the national facilitation programme is granted for a maximum period of one year. It may be renewed.
4. Data collected in the EES
The EES collects the following information:
- data provided in the travel document, i.e. forename and surname, date of birth, nationality;
- date and place of entry or exit;
- biometric data – facial image and fingerprints;
- information concerning refusal of entry.
The above data will be collected when the traveler crosses the border for the first time. During subsequent journeys, the border guards will only verify the data stored in the System. Only in exceptional situations it may be necessary to collect and record the data again.
All data is collected and stored in accordance with EU provisions concerning the protection of personal data.
5. Legal notice
The study is a work within the meaning of the Act of 4 February 1994 on Copyright and Related Rights (OJ 2006, No. 90, item 631, consolidated text, as amended). Publishing or reproducing this study or its part, quoting opinions, as well as disseminating in any other way the information contained therein without the written consent of Crede sp. z o.o. is prohibited.
