TIRANA, Oct 4 /ATA/ Earlier this month, the Entry/Exit System (EES) came into effect. This electronic mechanism records the entry and exit of non-EU citizens traveling to or from the Schengen area.
The Deputy Prime Minister, also Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, on Saturday outlined the new regulations that will be applied once this system enters into force.
This system operates through registration at the border using biometric data – a photograph and fingerprints.
The process takes only a few minutes, but travelers should be prepared for waiting times during peak periods.
The registration remains valid for a period of three years.
Travelers should also keep in mind the 90/180 rule: stays in the Schengen area may not exceed 90 days within any 180-day timeframe.
The system records any overstay; therefore, travelers must comply with the permitted time limits to avoid penalties.
Its implementation does not begin simultaneously across all Schengen countries, so it is important for everyone to seek information before traveling.
The Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated self-service system, collects data such as name, date of birth, nationality, gender, travel document, facial image, and/or fingerprints.
The EES records the date and place of entry and exit from any European country using the system, as well as instances of entry refusals, if applicable.
Depending on the case, travelers holding a biometric passport may present their travel documents at self-service systems.
Border police officers will provide assistance and/or supervise the process.
Travelers will be required to present their documents and submit biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) via the self-service system.
The collection and registration of this data will be introduced gradually at border crossing points beginning on October 12, 2025, with full implementation scheduled by April 10, 2026.
The border police officer verifies the information obtained from the self-service system, asks questions when necessary, authorizes or denies the traveler’s entry, and records the decision in the system.
This allows the traveler to benefit from a simpler and more efficient border crossing process.
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