Key Takeaways:
- Nearly 7,000 travellers were denied entry to the Schengen area in the first six months of the EU's new Entry-Exit System (EES) due to overstays.
- Over 66 million entries and exits were recorded, with 32,000 total refusals.
- The EES rollout has faced delays and queues, especially at French entry points from the UK.
- The EU is preparing for the ETIAS system, expected by end of 2026.
The European Commission's annual State of Schengen report has revealed striking data from the early months of the Entry-Exit System (EES). In the first six months of operation, nearly 7,000 travellers were denied entry to Europe's border-free zone because they stayed beyond their permitted time limit.
Overall, the system captured more than 66 million entries and exits of non-EU nationals, with 32,000 people refused entry since its phased launch in October 2025. Among those, approximately 7,000 were flagged as overstayers—a category that includes those who exceeded visa limits or broke the Schengen area's '90-day rule'.
What Drives the Overstay Figures?
The EU did not specify why each of the 7,000 travellers was classified as an overstayer. In general, however, these cases fall into two categories:
- Visa overstays: Travellers who remained beyond their visa's validity.
- 90/180 rule breaches: Non-EU citizens from visa-exempt countries (like the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) who stayed more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
Penalties can include fines or, more severely, a ban from entering the EU.
Additionally, nearly 800 people were stopped at Schengen borders because they were deemed a threat to internal security, the Commission noted.
EES Rollout: Progress and Pitfalls
Launched in October 2025, the EES aims to boost border security by digitally registering non-EU nationals and sharing real-time data on entries, exits, and refusals across Schengen countries. It replaces the manual stamping of passports.
While the Commission said that “the vast majority of Schengen States implemented the EES effectively,” several locations reported long queues and technical issues. The EU acknowledged challenges with infrastructure, including:
- Self-service system malfunctions.
- Inability to fully register biometric data.
- Congestion of flights during peak times.
“The option to temporarily suspend the operations of the EES, either fully or partially, was exercised only on a limited number of occasions,” the report stated.
The 90-Day Rule and Its Consequences
A key driver behind the EES is better enforcement of the 90-day rule. Previously, tracking relied on passport stamps, which were easy to manipulate. Now, the system automatically calculates stay durations, instantly flagging overstayers when they next attempt to cross an EU external border.
This stricter enforcement has already sparked reactions. In early February, drivers from the Western Balkans blocked Schengen border crossings, arguing that tighter rules make regular work in the EU impossible. UK transport and logistics groups have also urged the Commission to suspend penalties, warning of driver shortages and supply chain disruption.
The EU has noted these concerns, with plans to explore extending the 90/180-day rule for certain non-EU professionals.
What’s Next: ETIAS on the Horizon
Looking ahead, the report highlights preparations for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), expected to launch by the end of 2026. This system will require short-term visitors from visa-exempt countries to register and obtain a travel authorisation before departure.
“Preparations are progressing, with coordinated efforts underway at EU and national levels to ensure ETIAS' effective roll-out. Early involvement of travel industry stakeholders is crucial for the success of this endeavour,” the report said.
Despite the challenges, the Commission emphasized that in 2025, the Schengen area “continued to be the most visited destination in the world, attracting more than 790 million travellers.”