EU Confirms November 2024 Launch Date for New Entry/Exit System

Charlie Immigration updates 19 August 2024 | Updated On August 23, 2024 | 0

The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), designed to enhance border checks for non-EU visitors, is set to launch on November 10, 2024.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson confirmed the date, marking the first time the EU has provided a specific launch date for this new digital border system. Previously, the rollout was vaguely scheduled for “the autumn.”

The EES will apply to non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens visiting the Schengen area for short stays. Upon entry, travellers will be required to provide biometric data, including a facial image and fingerprints, along with passport information. The system will also log the time and place of both entry and exit.

Importantly, the EES does not affect individuals with long-stay visas or residency cards.

Originally planned for 2022, the system’s launch was delayed due to challenges in preparing the EU-wide IT infrastructure and installing new equipment at key travel points like airports and ports.

“After intense dialogues with member states, with EU-Lisa [the EU agency in charge of the infrastructure], and with various stakeholders, I have decided that the EES will go live on November 10.”

While there are still some legal steps required before the final decision, Johansson confidently announced that November 10 is now the target date.

How will it work?

Once operational, the EES will replace the traditional passport stamps with a digital record of each non-EU citizen’s entry and exit from the Schengen area. This ensures compliance with the 90-day limit for short stays within any 180-day period.

First-time travellers after the system launch will need to submit fingerprints and facial biometrics. For subsequent trips, only a passport scan at a self-service kiosk will be needed to match the traveller’s ID with their stored biometric data.

However, there has been no update on the status of a mobile app being developed by the EU, which aims to reduce border wait times by allowing travellers to submit some data in advance.

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