The EES rules come into force

Last updated on October 16th, 2025 at 11:28 pm.

October 12^th is the date when the new Entry/ Exit System (EES) will begin to operate. This is the new form of border check for non-EU residents who enter the Schengen Area. What will this mean for non-EU nationals living in Spain, non-residents and tourists?

It’s been anticipated for a long time, but now the new process for entering and leaving Spain is, we’re told, ready to roll out. From Sunday October 12^th those people arriving or departing from Spanish airports can expect this new system to apply in some, but not all, Spanish airports. Full implementation is expected to take six months and be fully in place by April 2026.

The first airport to launch the new system will be Madrid-Barajas and travellers will watch with anticipation to see how it works out for its users. The EES will be introduced gradually across border crossing points from 12 October 2025, starting with selected airports and expanding to all entry points (land and sea borders) during a transitional period of around six months.

If you are visiting

If you are a tourist travelling to Spain on holiday or a non-resident property owner with a passport from a country outside of the EU, then you will be directed towards the non-EU passport control area. Here you will be asked about the reason for your visit and have your photo and four fingerprints taken.

This will only be necessary on your first visit. Subsequently Spain will have your digital EES record for monitoring your entry and exit periods and you will only be required to provide a fingerprint or photo. The biometric data recorded in the EES will be kept for three years after your last entry or exit (or five years if no exit is recorded). If you do not travel within that period, your data will be deleted and collected again the next time you enter the Schengen Area. In spite of this being the general expectation, you can expect variations. The British Embassy has quoted that ‘your fingerprints and photo may be taken’. Once this stage is complete, your journey is likely to continue much as usual.

In some cases you may still have your passport stamped, but again there seems to be some uncertainty about this and travellers can expect variations between airports. Eventually, it is understood that there will be no need for either visitors or residents to have their passports stamped as the information will be stored digitally. Your record of entry and exit will be automatically recorded making sure that you are not an ‘overstayer’ of the 90-day Schengen Area rule.

If you hold a TIE card

If you have a TIE residency card you will also pass through the non-EU passport control section as you do now. It’s possible that a separate queue will be allocated for residents but, for the moment, this isn’t clear so don’t expect it. Unlike visitors, you will not need to have your fingerprints and photo taken as Spain already has this information from you. However, there is the possibility that your passport may be stamped although it is unclear what the point of doing this would be.

It is vital, therefore, that you take your TIE card with you when travelling abroad. If you have lost yours then you must officially log this with your local police station and apply for a new one.

Green certificates

If you still haven’t exchanged your green residents’ certificate for a TIE then you are likely to face problems at the border if you want to be classed as a resident. Officially the resident certificate still entitles you to residency in Spain. However, as it is not biometric you should not expect an easy reception at border control.

Still a work in progress

Reading this you will probably have gathered that the implementation of the EES is still very much in its early stages. Originally planned for November 2024, it has already been delayed and we can expect there to be plenty of teething problems. Remember, that the extent to which these procedures will apply depends on the airport you are using.

The good news is that there is no cost directly for you and the system does not require you to do anything before you arrive at the border. Just make sure that you have your valid passport and TIE with you, if you are a resident and valid passport, if not. During the first stages of implementation it would be wise to allow additional time for passing through the airport. Once the system is up and running any initial delays should be reduced and stamping passports will no longer be required.