New EU-wide entry procedure: Entry/Exit System (EES)
WHAT is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EES is an automated IT system that registers travelers at the external borders of the Schengen Area. Specifically, it applies to third-country nationals (persons who do not hold the nationality of an EU Member State, a country of the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland) who enter or exit the Schengen area for a short stay without a residence permit. The border control process is changing for these travelers. The EES largely replaces the manual stamping of passports, as it electronically records the traveler’s biometric data.
In Austria, data is collected at the external air borders, meaning at the six international airports of Vienna-Schwechat, Salzburg, Linz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt and Graz. The EES has been rolled out progressively since October 12, 2025 and will be operational across the EU by April 10, 2026.
WHO is affected by the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EES border control applies to travellers who are non-EU citizens and who travel to a European country using the Entry/Exit System for a short stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. These travelers will either:
- Have a short-stay visa (travel visa, Schengen visa type C), or
- Do not require a visa to stay in the European Union for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
EU citizens and citizens of countries within the Schengen Area (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and persons with an existing residence permit or visa for a longer-term stay in the EU are not affected. Citizens of Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino, as well as holders of passports issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See, are also exempt from registration in the EES.
For detailed information on exemptions, please visit the European Union’s travel pages on the EES.
HOW does the EES work?
When crossing the border for the first time (entry or exit), a personal EES file is created for the traveler, which means that the following data are recorded electronically:
- Name, travel document, nationality
- Date and place of entry and exit
- Biometric data (facial image and fingerprints)
The EES file will be stored for a period of three years and one day after the date of the last exit or refusal of entry record. This period can be extended.
The data is recorded at the border control desk by border personnel. Individuals over the age of 12 who have a biometric passport with a storage medium (chip) can also register at Vienna International Airport using the self-service system.
The transition will take place gradually and there will be relevant information and assistance at all border crossing points. The EES will be fully operational throughout the EU by April 10, 2026. This means that travellers are legally obliged under EU law to provide biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) as part of the border control process.
You can download an overview of the border control process here.
What do I need to be aware of when entering Austria/Vienna by plane for the first time after the EES comes into operation?
If you are entering information in the EES at Vienna International Airport Schwechat for the first time, we recommend that you allow more time for check-in and check-out, especially if you have to catch a connecting flight or train.
Please also make sure that your travel documents (passports and any visas required) are valid.
We recommend visiting the website of your national authority or the official website of the EU Commission on the EES for up-to-date information before you travel.
Please note: EES is not ETIAS!
In addition to the Entry/Exit System, the European Union is also expected to introduce the ETIAS system (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) in the last quarter of 2026. The ETIAS system is an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt third-country nationals, which must be applied for prior to travel. Similar systems already exist for travel to the USA (ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization) and the UK (ETA – Electronic Travel Authorization).
More information:
- EES – Entry Exit System – European Union
- ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorisation System – European Union
- Visa - Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
- Schengen States – Federal Chancellery of Austria
Frequently Asked Questions:
29 European countries (25 of the 27 EU member states and the four member states of the European Free Trade Association Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway): In Austria, the data are collected at the external air borders of the six international airports. If you travel to Vienna by plane, the data are recorded at Vienna International Airport. Which countries will use the Entry/Exit System?
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Yes. The EES regulations also apply to UK nationals entering the country for a short stay (up to 90 days). More information and exceptions can be found on the EU website.Do the EES regulations also apply to British nationals?
You may need a visa for your trip to Vienna, depending on your country of origin. Information about this can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Do I need a visa for a trip to Vienna?
