TL;DR: The EES is just the EU/Schengen Zone’s new safe border system the place all non-EU nationals visiting the EU could have their biometric info (fingerprints and facial particulars) scanned and verified at passport management. It requires no advance preparation or payment for vacationers. Don’t confuse it with the ETIAS, which doesn’t come into impact till fall 2026.
What’s the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, British, and different non-EU nationwide guests to France (and different EU international locations listed under) will likely be topic to the Entry/Exit System (EES) beginning October 12, 2025. The EES is an automatic IT system for registering non-EU nationals visiting for a brief journey, every time they cross the exterior borders of any European international locations utilizing the system. This may exchange outdated passport stamps with a digital log of while you enter and depart the Schengen Space, rushing up border checks and making the method smoother. With self-service kiosks and the choice to offer info forward of time, it ought to imply much less ready round while you journey. It additionally helps authorities spot overstays or faux identities utilizing fingerprint and face knowledge, whereas giving border officers higher instruments to maintain the area safe.
‘Brief keep’ means as much as 90 days inside any 180-day interval throughout all EES international locations
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
How will this have an effect on vacationers topic to the EES?
It simply signifies that first time you arrive in France (or any EES nation), passport management officers will scan your fingerprints or take a photograph of your face. This info is saved digitally, so on later journeys they solely must confirm what’s already within the system. When you have a biometric passport, you possibly can typically use self-service kiosks for faster entry.This method is already utilized by international locations such because the US.
Do I must do one thing to organize?
No, the whole lot is finished at passport management.
What does the EES price?
Nothing. The EES has no payment for vacationers.
Is that this the brand new program the place I’ve to register and pay prematurely?
No, that’s ETIAS, which gained’t begin till fall 2026 (see under).
The place can I discover extra information?
Watch out for all of the faux websites spreading misinformation (or worse, “promoting” EES visas). That is the official European Union web site: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees
What’s the European Journey Info and Authorisation System (ETIAS)?
Beginning in late 2026, Individuals, Canadians, Australians, British and different visa-exempt vacationers might want to apply on-line for an ETIAS journey authorization earlier than coming to most European international locations, together with France. It prices €20, is legitimate for as much as three years (or till your passport expires), and permits brief stays of as much as 90 days inside a 180-day interval. ETIAS is linked to your passport and doesn’t exchange border checks; you’ll nonetheless have to point out your passport and meet entry circumstances while you arrive.
In the mean time it’s not attainable to use for ETIAS (I’ll replace this text and announce it within the e-newsletter as quickly as functions open). Don’t fall for any web site claiming to acquire the ETIAS for you earlier than it’s obtainable on the official European Union web site right here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
ESTA: The US Equal
Whereas many Individuals have been “appalled” when ETIAS was introduced two years in the past, many didn’t notice that Europeans and different non-US nationals visiting the US have wanted an ESTA (Digital System for Journey Authorization) since 2009. ESTA lets residents of Visa Waiver Program international locations go to the US for as much as 90 days and not using a visa, offered they apply on-line beforehand. It prices $21, is legitimate for 2 years (or till the passport expires), is tied to the passport, and—like ETIAS—last entry is at all times determined by a border officer.
