Traveling to Europe? What You Need to Know About EES

The New EES Entry System – What you Need to Know

Travelling to Europe is about to change. The EU is rolling out a new Entry/Exit System (EES) to replace the old passport stamping method for short stays in the Schengen Area.
If you’re South African (or any other non-EU national) planning a visit, this is something you’ll want to be ready for.

What Is the EES?

The EES is an automated digital system that records when and where non-EU travellers enter and exit the Schengen Area.
Instead of getting your passport physically stamped, your details will now be logged electronically.
The system is designed to:

Track compliance with the 90/180-day Schengen stay rule.
Record biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) and travel information.
Help border authorities identify overstayers more quickly.

🛂 Non-EU national – For the purpose of the EES, this means a traveller not holding the nationality of any European Union country or the nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

📅 Short stay – Means up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES.

Who does it apply to?

The system applies to all non-EU nationals visiting the Schengen Area for a short stay (up to 90 days within 180 days).
That includes travellers from South Africa, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and more.

If you hold a residence permit in Germany or another Schengen country, this system won’t affect your normal border crossings in the same way – but keep in mind, it still applies when travelling as a visitor within Schengen.

The EES Does not apply to:

Nationals of the European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland
Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national
Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen
Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing
Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See
People exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (such as heads of state, cross-border workers, etc.);
People not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours
People holding a valid local border traffic permit
Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys
People holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or a valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State

Source: Travel-Europe.europa.eu (Offiial website of the European Union)

When does it start?

Progressive rollout: from 12 October 2025
Full implementation: by 10 April 2026

How will it work?

If this is your first entry since EES began:

You’ll provide your personal data to passport control officers.
They will scan your fingerprints or take a photo of your face, and this will be stored in your digital file.
The process can be quicker if you register some of your data in advance, either by:
- Using the dedicated self-service system (if available at your border crossing point).
- Using a mobile app, if provided by the country you are arriving in or departing from. The Travel to Europe mobile application, developed by Frontex, enables non-EU travellers to pre-register their travel document data and facial image for the Entry/Exit System (EES) before arriving at a border crossing point.

If you’ve already crossed an EES border before:

Your fingerprints and/or facial photo will already be stored.
Officers will simply verify your biometric data, which is quicker.
In rare cases, you may be asked to provide your data again.
If you hold a biometric passport, you’ll usually be able to enter faster by using the self-service system (if available).
South African passports are machine readable but not biometric

In both scenarios, you will still meet with an officer at the passport control counter.
Instead of getting an ink stamp in your passport, your details will now be recorded digitally.
Authorities will then use this system to monitor the length of your stay and quickly identify overstayers.

See the EU Website for more information

Key things to remember

Digital Registration

No more passport stamps! Instead, the EES will automatically record your entry and exit, ensuring a more efficient and secure process.

Biometric Data

You will need to provide fingerprints and a facial image when crossing the Schengen borders. This biometric data ensures accurate identification.

Tracking Overstays

The EES will monitor the duration of your stay in the Schengen Area, automatically calculating if you’ve overstayed your permitted time. The system enforces the 90/180-day rule.

Faster Border Crossings

The new system aims to speed up the border control process, making your travel experience smoother.

✈️ EasyPASS and Biometric Passports

If you hold a biometric passport, you may be able to use automated e-gates (EasyPASS) at certain airports. This will also depend on your nationality. These gates use facial recognition to match you with the digital data stored in your passport’s chip, allowing for a quicker and mostly contactless border crossing. Although you can register for EasyPASS when you have permanent residence in Germany, the South African passport does not qualify, as it is not biometric

Info on the web

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