What it is
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of the European countries using the system. These are 29 countries: the Schengen countries, which include Bulgaria and Romania. Cyprus and Ireland are not among them, and passports are still stamped by hand there.
Short stay means up to 90 days within any 180-day period, calculated as a single period for all the countries using the EES.
When it applies
The EES was introduced step by step at the external borders over six months. From 10 April 2026, the EES is fully operational at all external border crossing points of the countries using it. Passport stamping is replaced by the electronic record.
What it records
- The data in your travel document, such as your name and date of birth.
- The date and place of every entry and exit.
- Your facial image and fingerprints. Visa holders have fingerprints in the Visa Information System already, so they are not stored again.
- Whether you were refused entry.
The first time you cross, a border officer takes the photo and fingerprints and your passport will not be stamped. On later trips the officer only checks them against the record, and a biometric passport holder may be able to use a self-service system. Anyone who refuses to give biometric data is denied entry.
Who it applies to
It applies to non-EU nationals who travel for a short stay, whether they need a short-stay visa or can travel without one. Nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are not counted as non-EU nationals for this purpose.
The EES does not apply to groups such as holders of residence permits and long-stay visas, nationals of the countries using the EES, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, accredited diplomats, and holders of a valid local border traffic permit. The full list is on the official page.
Checking your remaining days
The EES counts your stay days automatically. Travellers can look up how many days are left in the online tool on the official site, at self-service equipment at some border crossings, or by asking the passport control officer. The tool does not reflect any time in the Schengen area that began before 10 April 2026.
How long data is kept
| Record | Kept for |
|---|---|
| Entries, exits and refusals of entry | 3 years from the day they were created |
| Individual file | 3 years and 1 day from the last exit or refusal of entry |
| Individual file, if no exit has been recorded | 5 years from the expiry date of the authorised stay |
The EES and the 90/180 rule
The EES does not change the rule. The short-stay rules stay as they are written in the Schengen Borders Code, and the EES adds an automatic record of the days. This calculator uses the same counting method for dates you enter yourself.
Use the calculator on the home page to count your own stays.
Updated: 4 November 2026