EU Schengen States Officially Launch EES Entry/Exit System

The 29 Schengen Agreement member states of the European Union (EU) have officially introduced the EES (Entry Exit System) from April 10.

This system electronically records entry and exit information, and applies to short-stay travelers coming from non-EU countries, including Japan. It has been introduced in stages since October 12, 2025. Those who hold a long-stay visa or residence permit are excluded.

The system records passport information, biometric data such as facial images and fingerprints, dates, times and places of entry and exit, and any past entry refusal information. It will replace the traditional passport stamps. The goal is to speed up border checks and enable the use of self-service kiosks.

The 29 countries covered are: Iceland, Italy, Estonia, Austria, the Netherlands, Greece, Croatia, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Finland, France, Bulgaria, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Romania.

Airports Council International (ACI) Europe pointed out that, despite authorities widely implementing temporary measures to suspend the collection of biometric data, waiting times of up to three hours occurred at border control. On the first day of operation, there was widespread disruption, including delays and missed flights. For example, on one flight to the United Kingdom, 51 passengers were not on board at departure, while on another flight there were no passengers present at the boarding deadline, and even 90 minutes later, 12 passengers had still not been able to reach the gate.

In addition, there are plans to begin introducing the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in the fourth quarter, which will require travelers to obtain pre-travel authorization. It is a system similar to the United States’ ESTA and the United Kingdom’s ETA. The application fee will be 20 euros, and it will be valid for three years.