The European Union has published a list of 29 Schengen member states whose nationals are exempt from the Entry/Exit System (EES) registration, with Cyprus and Ireland also excluded from the requirement.

The exemption therefore covers citizens of all EU countries, meaning they will not be required to complete the EES registration when travelling to the Schengen area for short stays.

The EES applies to non‑EU travellers entering the Schengen zone for visits of up to 90 days within any 180‑day period, recording entry and exit data for both visa‑required and visa‑free short stays.

Implications for non‑exempt travellers

For visitors from Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and other African nations, the EES is expected to introduce biometric registration at the border, replacing the traditional passport stamp for eligible short‑stay visits.

The system is intended to record the movements of short‑stay visitors who are not citizens of the participating or exempt countries.

What travellers should expect

Citizens of the exempt 31 countries can continue to travel to Schengen states without completing the EES registration, while all other short‑stay visitors should be prepared for biometric data collection at the border.