The Entry/Exit System (EES): what it is, how it works, and what changes will happen for those traveling to Italy.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) It is the new automated system of the European Union which, starting from October 12, 2025, will digitally record the entry and exit data of non-EU travelers. It will replace passport stamps with biometric controls to increase security and better manage short stays (up to 90 days out of 180). This applies to both visa-exempt and visa-required travelers.

WHAT IS THE ENTRY/EXIT SYSTEM (EES)

Il Entry/Exit System (EES) represents a digital revolution in European border management. It is an automated IT infrastructure designed to record the movements of citizens of Third countries who cross the external borders of the Schengen area for short stays.

What is the system for?

The primary objective of the EES is not merely bureaucratic, but also functional to safety and efficiency. The system was created to:

• Modernize controls: Replace the outdated system of manually stamping passports, which is time-consuming and does not allow for immediate cross-checking.
• Increase security: Counter the use of false identities and assist law enforcement in the fight against terrorism and serious crime.
• Managing migration flows: Identify precisely those who exceed the authorized period of stay (the so-called overstayers).

For which citizens does it apply?

It's crucial to clarify who will need to undergo this registration. The EES system applies to:

1. Third-country nationals (i.e. those who do not have citizenship of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland).
2. Travelers who need a short-stay visa.
3. Travelers coming from countries exempt from visa requirement tourist.

The system is active for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Where will it be active?

The system will be operational at the external borders of 29 European countriesHere is the full list of participating territories: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, 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.

Note: Cyprus and Ireland, despite being in the EU, will continue to apply stamps manually.

HOW THE EES WORKS

The operation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) radically changes the experience at the border by introducing biometric technology as a control standard.

Data registration upon first entry

If you arrive at a border crossing for the first time after the system comes into force (12 October 2025), the procedure will be as follows:

• You will need to provide your personal information from the travel document (name, date of birth, nationality).
• Border agents will take a photo of your face.
• Yours will be scanned fingerprints.

This biometric data will be saved in a secure digital file. If you refuse to provide this data, you will be denied entry.

Subsequent biometric checks

For subsequent trips, the process will be much quicker. Your photo and fingerprints are already in the database.

• Officials will only check the biometric match.
• You will be able to use, where available, the self-service systems or mobile applications to anticipate the entry of some data, reducing waiting times.

Automated calculation of 90 days out of 180

The system automatically calculates the length of stay. There will no longer be any need to count the days by looking at passport stamps: the EES electronically records the date and place of each entry and exitThis allows you to instantly know if a traveler still has days available or if they have exceeded the permitted limit.

WHAT CHANGES FOR THOSE TRAVELING TO ITALY

The introduction of the EES Europe system will have a direct impact on all non-EU tourists and visitors who choose Italy as a destination.

Goodbye to the passport stamp

The most visible change is the disappearance of the physical stamp. Electronic registration is more reliable and cannot be falsified. This means that proof of your entry and exit is entirely digital.

Stricter border controls

With the EES, Italian border authorities will have immediate access to your recent travel history in all 29 participating countries. The system will automatically report:

• If you have already stayed in the Schengen area.
• If you have been refused entry previously.
• If you are using a flagged document.

Startup phases

Although the official date is October 12, 2025, the introduction will be gradual over 6 months. The system will be fully operational by April 10, 2026During the first few months, not all data may be collected instantly at each border crossing, but the goal is to achieve complete digitalization.

Difference between EES and SCHENGEN VISA

It is important not to confuse the EES with the Schengen Visa, as they are two different instruments that work together.

1. The Schengen Visa it's a'authorization Preventive. This is the document that allows citizens of certain nationalities to present themselves at the border. It is required. before of the trip.
2. The EES (Entry/Exit System) is a record of the movements. It is the system that notes actually when you enter and when you exit.

Key point: The EES applies even to those who do not need a visaWhile the visa only concerns certain nationalities, the EES concerns all Non-EU citizens entering for short stays. If you have a short-stay visa, your fingerprints are already in the Visa Information System (VIS) and will not be re-entered into the EES, but you will still be registered upon entry and exit.

EES AND 90-DAY CALCULATION

One of the most critical functions of the EU entry/exit register It is the monitoring of the authorized period of stay.

The 90/180 day rule

The rule doesn't change, but the way it's enforced does. You can stay for a maximum of 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. This period is calculated as: unique period for all countries using the EES.

Verification tools for the traveler

To avoid errors, you can use a “short-term stay calculator” Online. This tool will allow travelers to check how many days of stay they have left. However, the official calculation remains the one recorded by the border authorities at the time of crossing.

What happens to family members of EU citizens?

Calculating the length of the authorized stay does not apply to non-EU citizens who are family members of EU citizens, if they are travelling with them or joining them, and who are exercising their right to free movement.

POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO EXCEED THEIR STAY

Il EES system It's relentless in identifying "overstayers." If the system detects that you haven't left within the established timeframe, serious consequences arise.

Automatic identification

The EES easily identifies those who remain in the Schengen area longer than permitted. It's no longer possible to rely on an oversight by the customs officer checking the stamps.

Sanctions and measures

If you stay longer than permitted, the consequences depend on the national legislation of the country you are in, but may include:

• Removal forced from the territory (expulsion).
• Administrative sanctions (fines).
• Detention awaiting repatriation.
• Re-entry ban: You may be banned from re-entering the EU in the future.

Exceptions for reasons of force majeure

If the exceeding of the period is due to unforeseeable or extenuating circumstances, such as hospitalization for serious injuries or medical emergencies, you can avoid penalties. However, you will need to provide the relevant authorities credible evidence of the incident. Only in this case can your data in the system be modified to justify the delay in leaving.

IMPACT ON INVITATIONS AND GUARANTEES

The introduction of the EES makes it even more crucial to properly prepare documents for entry into Italy, especially regarding proof of financial means and hospitality.

Why livelihoods are under scrutiny

Sources clearly indicate that travelers must meet entry requirements to be admitted. During checks, officials verify whether the traveler has sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the stay and for the return. Only those who access specific "National Facilitation Programs" for frequent travelers could be exempted from this systematic check, which implies that for For all other travellers, the control of economic means remains standard and rigorous.

The precision of control

Since the EES precisely tracks the length of stay, the financial coverage (such as a bank guarantee (or insurance for foreigners' entry) must be perfectly aligned with the declared length of stay. If you declare a 15-day stay but your financial resources or surety are inadequate, or if the EES detects discrepancies with your previous travel history (e.g., denied entry or overstay), the risk of being turned away at the border increases dramatically. Demonstrating that you can "legally acquire" these resources is essential.

DATA MANAGEMENT AND PRIVACY

Many travelers are concerned about the privacy of their biometric data. EES operates in compliance with the GDPR and Regulation (EU) 2017/2226.

What data is stored and for how long?

Storage times are strict and vary depending on the situation:

1. Entrances, exits and refusals of entry: Saved for from the date of registration.
2. Individual files: Saved for 3 years and 1 day since the last release.
3. If the exit (overstay) is not recorded: The data remains in the system for from the expiration of the authorized stay.
4. Family members of EU citizens: In specific cases, the data is deleted after 1 year or not kept at all if they accompany the EU citizen.

Who can see my data?

Access is limited to:

• Border and immigration authorities of the EES countries.
• Law enforcement authorities (Police) and Europol for investigations into serious crime and terrorism.
• Carriers (airlines/shipping companies): They can check required if the visa has been used or if the number of entries has been exhausted, but they do not access the complete biometric data.

EXEMPTIONS: WHO DOES NOT NEED TO REGISTER

Not everyone crossing the border ends up in the EES. There are specific categories exempt from registration:

• Citizens of countries using the EES, in addition to Cyprus and Ireland.
• Owners of residence permits or seen for long-term stays (Seen D).
• Citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and passport holders of the City of Vatican.
• Family members of EU citizens with a residence permit who travel with the EU citizen.
• Researchers and students with contracts lasting more than 3 months awaiting a residence permit.
• Cross-border workers and crew members (trains, planes, ships) on duty.
• Heads of state and diplomats on official trips.

FAQ – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EES

Here are answers to the most common questions based on official documents.

The new EES rules make it even more important to have valid documents, especially to demonstrate your means of subsistence and hospitality in Italy.

Call now, our consultants are ready to answer all your questions for free:

Here is a detailed explanation based on the documents provided.

What are National Facilitation Programmes (NFPs)?

I National Facilitation Programs (or facilitation) are voluntary tools that European countries adhering to the EES system can activate to speed up border crossings for citizens of third countries who travel frequently to Europe.

These programs are not an automatic right, but a "privilege" granted to specific travelers who demonstrate their reliability. Their purpose is to allow frequent travelers to avoid some of the more thorough checks typically required upon arrival.

What are the concrete advantages?

If you are accepted into one of these programs, border officials will have immediate access to your entry and exit history and may not be required to verify:

• The starting and destination point of your journey.
• The purpose of the stay and supporting documents (e.g. invitations, reservations).
• The availability of sufficient means of subsistence for the stay and return (e.g. cash, credit cards, guarantees).

In essence, the border crossing becomes much smoother because the agent doesn't have to examine all the financial and logistical documentation each time, assuming your reliability.

Who can access (Requirements)

To enter a facilitation program, the traveler must pass a preliminary screening (vetting). This includes:

1. Meet the entry requirements generals of the country.
2. Possess a valid travel document, visa, or permit.
3. Justify the frequency of travel towards EES countries.
4. Demonstrate the legitimate use of previous visas and your intention to leave Europe before the expiration of your stay.
5. Prove your own economic status in the country of residence and have sufficient financial means to cover the entire duration of the intended stays.

Duration and Validity

Access to the program has a limited duration:

• Initial login: granted for a maximum of 1 year.
• Renewals: can extend the validity up to a maximum of (or until the passport/visa expires), subject to an annual evaluation.

It is important to note that the relief is country specific: being admitted to (for example) Germany's facilitation program does not automatically guarantee the same treatment in France, unless specific agreements exist between the two states.

withdrawal

Access to the program is not permanent: if the authorities determine that the traveler no longer meets the eligibility criteria (for example, due to changes in financial circumstances or reliability), the benefit is immediately revoked.

The new EES rules make it even more important to have valid documents, especially to demonstrate your means of subsistence and hospitality in Italy.

Call now, our consultants are ready to answer all your questions for free:

Based on the documents provided, in order to access the National Facilitation Programs and justify the need for frequent travel to European countries using the EES, it is necessary to satisfy specific eligibility criteria.

Here are the specific requirements that the traveler must demonstrate:

• Justification for frequency: The applicant must be explicitly able to justify frequent travel to European countries using the EES.
• Correct use of previous visas: It is necessary to demonstrate thelegitimate use of the visa in the past.
• Economic status and intention to return: You have to try your own economic status in the country of residence and the clear one intention to leave the European country before the end of the authorized stay.
• Financial resources: It is mandatory to demonstrate that you possess (or can legally acquire) the sufficient financial means to cover the entire duration of the planned stays.
• Basic requirements: Of course, the traveler must meet the general entry requirements of the destination country and be in possession of a valid travel document (and, if necessary, a visa or residence permit).

Note on cross-checks: If the European country examining the application has doubts on the information provided, on the declarations made to justify the trips or on the documents presented, has the right to consult other European countries before making a final decision about admission to the program.

Based on the sources provided, here is what the procedures for the National Facilitation Programmes (NFP) in case problems or doubts arise during the examination of the application.

It is important to point out that access to these programs is considered a privilege and not a right: no European country using the EES is obliged to grant it.

Here are the details on how the decision is handled and what happens in the event of critical issues:

1. Consultation between countries before the decision

If the European country examining your application has any doubts (for example, on the information provided, the declarations made, or the validity of the documents presented), does not immediately proceed with an isolated refusal. The regulation provides that this country may consult other European countries before making a final decision. This helps to verify whether there are any precedents or reports in other countries that could affect the traveler's credibility.

2. No obligation to grant

Since the concession is a discretionary concession, the country has the right to reject the application if it deems the criteria are not fully met. Since it is a country-specific privilege, a rejection by one country does not theoretically prevent you from applying to another country (if you travel frequently to that destination), but each application is assessed individually.

3. Revoke access

If the application is initially accepted but the situation changes, access may be withdrawn. If it becomes clear that the traveler no longer meets the eligibility criteria (for example, no longer has sufficient economic means or has violated the rules of residence), access to the national facilitation programme is revoked.

4. Data complaints

While the documents do not specify a specific administrative appeal procedure for NFP program denials, they do indicate that any traveler has the right to file a complaint formally to the supervisory authority or the European Data Protection Supervisor if you believe that your personal data has been processed incorrectly or unlawfully during the assessments.