EES System for Non-EU Citizens to Launch by November 2024
The EU EES System is going to change the entry and exit of non-EU citizens when they visit EU countries. The Entry/Exit System EES requires travellers with short-stay visas or visa-exempt travellers to record their entry and exit. This automated border management system will record the entry and exit of persons at EU external border. The system will electronically record the name of the traveller, travel document type, biometrics (fingerprints and face scan), date and place of entry and exit.
Who Needs to Comply with the EES System?
Non-EU citizens or people from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland need to comply with the EES system. Short stays mean a stay of up to 90 days within any 180 day period. The EES system applies to those who need a short-stay visa for travelling to European countries or do not need a visa to travel for a short stay in European countries.
EU countries where ESS will start working include:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Note: Cyprus and Ireland will still continue to stamp passports manually.
EU EES System Start Date
European Union is all set to improve border control systems by tracking travel data via EES System. Possibly, starting on 10 November 2024, Schengen countries will start using the EES (Entry-Exit System), which will improve the entry and exit of non-EU people. Though the system aims to transform the entrance of non-EU passport holders into Europe, travel enthusiasts are concerned about possible delays, while many are concerned about their privacy.
EES Self Service Kiosks at Entry Points
The main aim of EES is to ensure people won’t overstay beyond the allowed 90 days stay during 180 days. Travellers will go through the self-service kiosks to scan their passports and provide fingerprint and face scans. However, it won’t include stamping their passports with entry or exit impressions. Apart from electronic recording of entry and exit into EU countries, the EES will also record denied entries to Europe.
What are the benefits of the EES?
EES aims to improve the EU external borders and the travelling experience of non-EU citizens. Further, the program will identify the overstayers and will pool reliable data on entries, exits and refusals to EU countries. This way, authorities can also limit identity fraud by collecting biometric data. As the EES is a real-time information-sharing IT system, border authorities across the EU will have the right information without any delay.
Exemption from EES System
As per European Union website, citizens from European countries using the EES are exempted from EES system checks. Further, Cyprus and Ireland are also exempted; however, these two countries will continue to stamp their passports manually.
Non-European Union citizens with a residence card who are immediately related to an EU national are also exempted. Europe residency permit holders and people with European long stay visas are also exempted from the EES system. This means people on residency by investment programs are also exempted from EES.
Conclusion
As per Ylva Johansson, commissioner of the EU, the EES system is all about strict digital border controls. The system will ensure efficient tracking of immigrants at every single airport, harbour and road into Europe. However people on EU residency permit or on Golden Visa are exempted. Experts have warned about possible delays which could be on average 2 minutes process per pessanger, compared with the present 45 seconds. EU experts says that more than 95% of the applications for EES system will be approved automatically within minutes, however some cases could lead to a wait of up to 72 hours.