
Third-country nationals who are allowed to enter the Schengen Area without a visa or on a short-term visa will soon no longer have their passports stamped.
Data for entry and exit to the block will be recorded through a new automated system - Entry/Exit System (EES).
The entry/exit system is a new automated system, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year. The system will serve to track travelers from third countries entering the EU, as well as to detect those who have violated the terms of stay.
The EES will replace the current system of manual passport stamping, which is very slow, does not provide reliable data on border crossings and does not always allow identification of overstayers.
At the same time, it is intended to modernize some other procedures that travelers from countries outside the EU must follow when they arrive in the bloc. In this way, it is possible for travelers to cross the borders more quickly.
In addition, the system will record specific data about travelers, such as their name, fingerprints, face, type of travel document, date and place of entry, date and place of exit, and the period of their stay. in the Schengen area.
Once the Entry/Exit System becomes fully operational, travelers who can enter the Schengen Area without a visa will be required to obtain a travel authorization online – the European Travel Information and Authorization System, ETIAS).
ETIAS is a fully electronic system, which will be used to track visa-free visitors to the Schengen area. ETIAS will cost €7 per person and will be valid for three years. Around 1.4 billion people who can currently enter the Schengen Area without a visa will need to apply for an ETIAS.
In addition to planning to launch the EES this year, EU authorities also plan to make changes to the visa application process.
The EU Parliament has just approved making Schengen visa application procedures completely online. The approved report aims to modernize Schengen visa application procedures by moving to a digital system.
The EU Parliament stressed that once such a plan is approved, visa applications will be processed on a single platform and at the same time noted that this will let applicants know which country they will receive their application.