The European Union’s new Entry-Exit System (EES) has identified nearly 7,000 overstayers within its first six months of operation, according to figures published by the European Commission. Since launching in October, the digital border scheme has logged over 66 million crossings by non-EU travellers, while around 32,000 travellers have been refused entry across the Schengen area.
The EES replaces traditional passport stamping with a fully digital process that tracks when and where people cross EU borders. Border authorities across participating countries can now access real-time information on travellers, including cases involving refused entry. The system is also designed to enforce the Schengen area’s “90-day rule”, allowing stays of up to three months in a rolling 180-day window.
Brussels did not provide a detailed explanation for the 7,000 overstay cases, although they are understood to involve travellers exceeding visa limits or breaching the 90/180-day restriction. Penalties for overstaying can range from fines to temporary bans from re-entering the EU. The Commission also revealed that nearly 800 people were denied entry on security grounds, underlining the EES’s role in strengthening border controls.
The rollout of the system has faced several challenges, despite most Schengen states successfully implementing the technology. Key crossing points are still not fully operational, with officials citing issues including technical issues affecting automated border kiosks, delays linked to biometric registration systems and heavy airport traffic during busy travel periods. Airports and travel operators have warned the system could lead to longer queues during busy holiday seasons.
Attention is now turning to the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), expected later this year. The scheme will require travellers from visa-exempt countries to obtain pre-authorisation before entering the Schengen area, marking a further step towards fully digital border management. The Commission said preparations were progressing through co-ordinated efforts across the EU, while industry groups in the UK and the Western Balkans continue to raise concerns that stricter enforcement of the 90-day rule could disrupt transport networks and cross-border work.