Third-country nationals (including British) travelling to and from European Union countries from May 2022 will no longer have their passports stamped, as the information on the date of their entry to the block, or the exit, will be recorded through a new automated system.

Published 3 years ago

A report on the SchengenVisaInfo website says that the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to become fully functional in May next year.

The system will register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing EU’s external borders, including Britons, which means that passport stamping will no longer be necessary.  However, despite the fact that authorities in the European Union want the new entry-exit system to be functionalized by the end of 2022, such a process may be further delayed, according to the same website.

The EES is an automated IT system for registering travellers from third countries, both short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travellers, each time they cross an EU external border. It is set to become effective before the European Travel Information and Authorization (ETIAS) system.

ETIAS Roll-out Scheduled for 2023

Starting in 2023, the European Commission plans to roll out this U.S. style electronic travel authorisation system for visitors from countries that are currently not part of the EU. These visitors have been granted visa-free access to the EU and Schengen member countries through virtue of their good track record on security issues and, thus, have not been deemed as a threat to EU security. However, the EU is wanting to strengthen its border security as well as digitally screen and track travellers entering and leaving EU countries.

ETIAS will check the security credentials and charge a fee to travellers visiting EU member countries for business, tourism, medical or transit purposes. Travellers who currently visit Europe visa-free are able to enter EU and Schengen Member countries cost-free and without any digital security screening prior to their arrival.

ETIAS is not a visa, and is more accurately referred to as a visa-waiver. The ETIAS, like the ESTA, is a travel authorisation for travellers not requiring a visa to visit Europe. Under the ETIAS, these visitors will undergo additional security checks prior to being permitted to enter into the EU. The ETIAS will be mandatory for citizens of such countries as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Related Links:

• Brits Will No Longer have their Passports Stamped (Schengen Visa News)
  
• EU’s Entry/Exit System Could be Further Delayed (Schengen Visa News)
  
• ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorisation System Official Site
  
• Noonsite EU page
  
• Mediterranean:  Coping with Schengen Shenanigans (Noonsite)
  
• Tunisia:  A Schengen Bolthole (Noonsite)
  
• UK:  CA 180-Day Visa Campaign for UK Boaters in Europe (Noonsite)
  

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Noonsite has not independently verified this information.

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