As the year draws to a close, let's take a look at the main differences between two major European border management initiatives to come into effect in 2025 : THE European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) and the Input/output system (EES).
These systems will affect travel to Europe for the 27 member countries of the Schengen area, as well as Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania.
Overview of future ETIAS and EES systems
- L'ETIAS will require visa-exempt travellers to apply for a travel authorisation before departure, as the ESTA does for the USA and soon the United Kingdom. This is not a visa per se, and does not affect the visa-free status of travelers.. ETIAS will register both visa-exempt travelers and those who are required to have a visa when entering Europe for a short-term stay. You'll need to pay about €7 per passenger.
- The system EESIt will replace manual stamps on passports at external borders, and will systematically record the entry and exit of travellers as they cross these borders.
Both contribute to reinforcing security at Schengen borders and aim to modernize border control systems, making European destinations even safer.
The main differences between ETIAS and EES
Although both systems aim to enhance border security, they are based on two different processes:
1. Information required for an ETIAS travel authorization
During the ETIAS travel authorization requestBased on the equivalents already in place around the world, travelers would have to provide personal information such as address, passport details, current occupation, as well as details of past travel to conflict zones or any criminal convictions.
2. Data collected by the EES system
The EES system collects facial images and fingerprints from travelers, in addition to their travel document data. It also registers travelers entering and leaving European territory using this system.
Do I need to provide fingerprints?
As previously mentioned, the EES system uses biometric technology to enhance border security. Four fingerprints will be taken at the initial checkpoints and compared with the data stored in the EES or VIS systems. If a traveler is not yet registered in the system, a new file will be created for him or her.
Travelers are advised to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization well in advance of their departure for Europe. Registration with the EES system takes place when crossing the external border of one of the 29 countries using this system.
How will ETIAS and EES impact future travel in Europe?
With the planned deployment of the EES in 2024, followed by the ETIAS in 2025, these two systems aim to facilitate and secure travel to and within the Schengen area, while responding to today's unprecedented security and immigration challenges. They will ensure more efficient and modern control of the movement of non-European visitors, using advanced technologies to strengthen border management.
Although there are similarities in their overall objectives, systems ETIAS and EES have distinct methods and collect different information to achieve their ultimate goal of strengthening and modernizing European border controls.
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