Entry/Exit-System (EES)
What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The Entry/Exit System records non-EU citizens at the external borders of the Schengen Area digitally. Biometric data such as fingerprints, facial images, and other travel information are collected and will gradually replace the current passport-stamping procedure.
Which groups of travellers are affected by the new EES process?
Travellers holding a short-stay visa (Visa C)
Visa-exempt third-country nationals
For details on which groups of travellers are exempt from the EES, please refer to the official EU EES website.
What is changing?
At border control points, the affected groups of travellers will have their biometric data collected or verified, and their stay will be checked digitally. For EU citizens, the border control process remains unchanged.
Recommendations
- EES-required travellers aged 12 and over: Use the self-service pre-registration systems, where available. These facilitate the process and offer a wide range of language options.
- EU citizens aged 14 and over: Use the automated passport control gates, where available.
Detailed information on the Entry/Exit System is available on the official EU EES website and from the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
For non-Schengen guests, border control currently takes longer than before. We therefore recommend allowing extra time for the border control process before depa