Madrid airport has been trying the new EES entry exit system since October, Menorca and a few other Spanish airports came on line earlier this month and this coming week on Wednesday, Palma airport will begin using the new entry scheme. 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 any of the following European countries using the system.
For the purpose of the EES, ‘non-EU national’ means a traveller not holding the nationality of any European Union country or the nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. ‘Short stay’ means up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES.
What are the benefits of the EES?
Making Border Checks More Modern and Efficient: The EES will gradually replace passport stamps with a digital system that records when travellers enter and exit, making border checks faster and helping staff to work more efficiently.
Making Travel Across Borders Easier and Faster: With EES, travellers will spend less time at the border thanks to faster checks, self-service options, and the possibility to give their information in advance.
Preventing Irregular Migration: The EES will help track who comes in and out of the Schengen Area, using fingerprint and face data to stop people from overstaying, using fake identities or misusing visa-free travel.
Increasing the security in the Schengen Area: The EES will give border officers and law enforcement authorities access to important traveller information, helping them to spot security risks and support the fight against serious crimes and terrorism.
The EES does not apply to:
Nationals of the European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland
Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national
Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen
Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing
Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See
People exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (such as heads of state, accredited diplomats, cross-border workers, etc.). Diplomats travelling on short stay may be exempt from EES registration under certain conditions.
The exception from registration in the EES apply to members of the armed forces travelling on NATO or Partnership for Peace business, who hold an identification and individual or collective movement order provided for by the Agreement between the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces and may apply to civilian component or dependents referred to in the NATO Status of Forces Agreement.
People not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours
People holding a valid local border traffic permit
Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys
People holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State.
Then once you have coy a grip of the EES system, the new ETIAS travel authorisation (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), which will now cost 20 euros per adult instead of the original 7, is going to be introduced next year. And it does has some serious implications such as denied entry. According to SchengenVisaInfo citizens who can travel to the Schengen Area visa-free will need to get an online authorization known as ETIAS. This authorisation is obtained online and will be valid for three years from the date of issue.
The application process for ETIAS is quick and straightforward, and you will be notified almost immediately of your application status (approved/denied). Although most ETIAS applications will be approved almost immediately, there is still a chance that your ETIAS application can be denied. This can happen if the system finds something wrong with your application. For example, if, while checking your information, eligibility, or your risk factors, the system reports one or several hits, your application will be rejected.