Citizens of third countries will soon stop having their passports stamped at the border when entering the Schengen area without a visa. The information will be automatically entered into the database.
The new EU entry control system should be fully launched at the end of this year, reports TRAVEL RBC-Ukraine with reference to schengenvisainfo.com.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new automated system that will track the stay of travelers from third countries.
“EES will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which takes a lot of time, does not provide reliable data on border crossings and does not allow systematic detection of overstayers,” the European Commission’s Directorate for Migration and Home Affairs said in a statement.
Modernization of other procedures will allow travelers to cross borders more quickly. The system will record specific data about travelers, including name, fingerprints, facial image, type of travel document, date and place of entry, date and place of departure, as well as the period of their stay in the Schengen area.
Travelers who will be granted visa-free entry to the Schengen area will need to obtain an entry permit online through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
ETIAS will cost 7 euros per person. Initially, the permit will be valid for three years.