Twitter
Facebook
On November 10, the European Union is scheduled to implement a new automated system for entry and exit into Europe: the European Exit/Entry System. It replaces any entry stamps and operates digitally, allowing for better tracking of arrival and departure dates.
EES is a digital, on-arrival registration system and will be in operation in 30 countries. It will apply to all non-EU citizens, including Americans, unless they are ordinary residents with an alien resident permit, or long-term visa. However, U.S. military and civilian personnel and their dependents on orders should be exempt from the system. This system is in addition to the European Travel Information and Authorization System, a new pre-travel authorization system scheduled to become effective in 2025.
Travelers (non-permanent residents) may stay no more than 90 out of every 180 days inside the “Schengen” area, a border-free area that consists of most EU countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland. EES will register the person’s name, type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images), and the date and place of entry or exit. It will also record refusals of entry.
EES will replace the current system of manually stamping passports, which is time consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings and does not allow for systematic detection of those who exceed the maximum duration of their authorized stay.
U.S. Forces, including military, civilian employees, contractors and family members, stationed in Europe will likely be exempt from EES for travel to the country where they are stationed. Due to variations in identification and orders for those accompanying the force, putting this exemption into practice will be difficult.
Furthermore, EU legislation, at this point, does not allow for leave travel to other countries inside or outside of the Schengen area without EES registration. No mechanism yet exists which provides an opportunity for registration in EES from inside one Schengen country to go to another. The EU’s position is that U.S. Forces personnel become visitors in another EU country if they travel there on leave. Without EES registration, they would then be out of compliance with EU and local law.
Additionally, traveling to a non-Schengen country in Europe could be problematic as the EES system does not provide a way to properly record entry/exit dates for U.S. Forces at this point. U.S. officials are currently working on a solution to ensure that personnel with NATO SOFA status will be able to take leave travel around, in and out of Europe without having to register in the new EES.
Note that regardless of exemptions for those stationed in Europe, your visiting family members (not on orders) will have to register in EES upon arrival and deregister when they depart.
