Europe’s long-delayed and repeatedly-postponed new systems for keeping track of visitors have gotten new start dates, with the Entry and Exit System (EES) set to go live Sunday, November 10th.
The systems, originally scheduled to go into effect in 2022, have had setbacks from Covid, funding in some member countries, equipment issues, and at least twice for fear of causing chaos at key travel times. Most recently, at France’s request, the start of EES was pushed back until after the Olympics.
The other program, ETIAS, or Electronic Travel Information and Authorization System, will now go on-line six months later, early in 2025. Under ETIAS, visitors from visa-free countries will need to register and pay a €7, which covers two years of travel to Schengen-zone countries.
EES uses electronic gates at border points to scan passports and biometrically identify travelers; it is intended to replace passport checks by border agents and to eliminate stamping of passports. More critically, it allows EU officials to effectively monitor the rules that limit visitors to no more than 90 days out of 180 in the zone.
Cynics advise checking in again in October to see if it is still happening.
