What is the EES (Entry/Exit System) and how does it affect travel to Sweden?
What the EES records, who it covers and how it differs from ETIAS.
Short answer
The Entry/Exit System (EES) registers non-EU travellers on short stays at the Schengen border, and it started in Sweden on 12 October 2025. It records your passport details, face photo and fingerprints, replaces passport stamping, and has been fully operational in all Schengen countries since 10 April 2026.
Why
- According to the Swedish Police, the Entry Exit System started on 12 October 2025 and applies to citizens of countries outside the EU/Schengen area who travel to a European country for a short stay.
- According to the Swedish Police, the traveller's travel documents, face photo and fingerprints are registered in a personal file in a database.
- According to the European Commission, the EES has been fully operational across all Schengen countries since 10 April 2026, and nothing has to be filed in advance.
Details
At the external Schengen border you show your passport and any permits, and you give a face photo and fingerprints. The Commission says travellers can optionally pre-register through the Travel to Europe app within 72 hours before entry. EES records are registered together with entry and exit details, and the UK Foreign Office advises allowing extra time at the border.
Tip
Allow extra time at the border, because the photo and fingerprints are taken in person.
What may differ
EU and Schengen citizens are not covered by the EES, and non-EU nationals who hold a residence permit or residence card in the country they enter are not registered.
Common misconception
The EES and ETIAS are the same thing.
What actually happens
The EES is a registration at the border and nothing is filed in advance, while ETIAS is an online authorisation that must be applied for before departure and has not started yet.
People also ask
- What is the EES?
- Does the EU Entry/Exit System apply to Sweden?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check the Swedish Police before you travel.
Planning and entry to SwedenRelated questions
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Can you bring prescription medicines into Sweden?
You can bring prescription medicines into Sweden if you can show they are yours, for example with a prescription, a pharmacy label or a doctor's certificate.
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Can you bring food, meat and dairy into Sweden?
From other EU countries you may bring any type of food for personal use, but meat and dairy products from outside the EU are generally not allowed.
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How much alcohol and tobacco can you bring into Sweden from outside the EU?
From outside the EU you can bring 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of fortified wine, 4 litres of wine, 16 litres of beer and 200 cigarettes duty free.
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How do I renew a Swedish passport from abroad?
Swedish citizens living abroad can apply for a passport at some Swedish embassies, and most embassies can also hand over a passport applied for elsewhere.