On July 18, 2025, the Council of the European Union validated the progressive deployment of the EES over six months, aiming to strengthen the effectiveness of controls at the external borders of the Schengen Area. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an upcoming automated IT system designed to register all non-EU travelers, including both short-stay visa holders and those exempt from visas, every time they cross an EU external border. It will capture the traveler’s name, travel document type, biometric data (fingerprints and facial images), and details of their entry and exit (date and location). All data collection will strictly adhere to fundamental rights and data protection regulations. The EES will also record any entry refusals. This new system aims to replace the current time-consuming and unreliable manual passport stamping, which struggles to provide accurate border crossing data and identify overstayers.
What is the EES? The EES is a digital system that will record the entries and exits of non-EU nationals, including passport details, fingerprints, and a facial image, in order to:
- Streamline border crossings in the long term.
- Strengthen the effectiveness of controls and prevent identity fraud.
- Facilitate identification and prevent overstays (the well-known “90 days in 180 days” rule).
- Create a travel history: shared access for border authorities and security services.
How will the deployment unfold? To avoid congestion, the system will be implemented in stages:
- 10% of crossing points equipped within the first 30 days.
- 35% within three months.
- Total coverage expected in five to six months.
Each country can adapt this schedule according to its technical capabilities, with the possibility of temporarily suspending the system at certain borders in case of malfunction or high traffic. The EES will transform your international mobility practices in/out France and Schengen area, with :
- Systematic biometric collection.
- Electronic recording of movements.
- Shared access to data by border and security authorities (Commission, Frontex, eu-LISA).
The Entry/Exit System (EES) of the European Union, which will also apply to France, is expected to be implemented
gradually starting October 12, 2025. It’s worth noting that this rollout will occur over a 180-day period, meaning full operationality across all borders might take some time after this initial date. The EES aims to replace manual passport stamping and automate border controls for non-EU travelers, including both short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travelers. WARNING : This new system (EES) will fundamentally
challenge the practices of recent decades where many foreign passport holders, exempt from visas for short stays, didn’t always adhere to the “90 days in, 90 days out” rule within the Schengen area over a 180-day period. By automating the tracking of entries and exits, the EES will enable
systematic and precise detection of overstays, which was difficult to achieve with the manual passport stamping system. Gone are the approximations and grey areas; the EES will provide reliable data to ensure strict compliance with authorized stay durations. To be prepared call us for a first consultation on zoom to address your French Immigration and residency needs.
