Back in 2017, the EU only had a proposal on the table: a new electronic system to record entries and exits at Schengen borders, with completion planned for 2020. After years of delays, it finally happened: since 10 April 2026, the EES (Entry/Exit System) has been fully operational at all external Schengen borders, including Poland’s. Here’s what actually changed for travellers entering Poland on a visa or visa-free.

What is EES and how does it work

EES (Entry/Exit System) is an EU-wide electronic system that records every entry and exit of third-country nationals travelling to the Schengen Area for a short stay (up to 90 days). The rollout started progressively on 12 October 2025, and since 10 April 2026 the system has been fully deployed at all border crossing points across the 29 Schengen countries, including Poland.

EES replaces manual passport stamping. On your first crossing, border authorities record a facial image and fingerprints, along with your travel document data. On subsequent trips, the check is done automatically against the data already stored in the system.

Who is affected

EES registration applies to all third-country nationals entering the Schengen Area for a short stay (up to 90 days), regardless of whether they need a visa:

  • citizens of countries that still need a visa to enter (e.g. Russia, Belarus);
  • citizens of visa-exempt countries, who can stay in Schengen up to 90 days within any 180-day period (e.g. Ukraine, Moldova).
If you’d like to understand your rights and obligations as a visa-free traveller in Poland in more detail, see our article on what visa-free travel actually gives you in Poland.

EU/Schengen citizens, as well as holders of a Polish residence card (karta pobytu) or long-term visas/residence permits, are not subject to the EES procedure: it only applies to short-stay visits by third-country nationals.

What changed at the border

  • No more passport stamps: entry and exit data are now stored electronically in the EES database.
  • The system automatically calculates the length of stay under the 90/180-day rule, making an “accidental” overstay far harder. Border guards used to rely on smudged stamps, now they have precise electronic records.
  • On your first crossing you’ll need a little extra time for biometric enrolment (photo and fingerprints), which has increased processing times, especially in the months right after launch. Throughout 2026, airports and airlines repeatedly complained about longer queues during peak summer travel.
  • It’s now easier to identify overstayers or visa-regime violations, meaning the risk of deportation and an entry ban for violators is higher than before.

ETIAS: what’s coming next

Separately from EES, the EU is preparing ETIAS, a pre-travel authorisation for citizens of visa-exempt countries (similar to the US ESTA system). As of mid-2026, ETIAS is not yet operational: the official launch is expected in the last quarter of 2026 / autumn 2026, though no exact date has been announced yet. Once it launches, Ukrainian citizens and other visa-exempt nationals will need to apply online (for a small fee) before travelling to the Schengen Area. Until ETIAS is live, any website offering to register for it in advance is fraudulent.

Practical tips

  • Allow extra time at the border, especially at busy crossing points, in the first months after an EES rollout milestone.
  • Keep your own record of days spent in Schengen: even though the system now counts automatically, it’s safer not to rely on it exclusively, especially with multiple trips in a row.
  • If you plan to stay in Poland longer than 90 days, arrange a legal basis for your stay (visa, residence permit) in advance, since the system now tracks overstays far more precisely than before.

FAQ

Do I need to register for EES in advance? No, registration happens automatically at the border on your first crossing after the system’s rollout, so there’s nothing to apply for beforehand.

Does EES replace a visa? No. EES is an entry/exit record-keeping system, not a travel authorisation. Citizens of countries that need a visa still need one.

Has the 90/180-day rule changed? No, the rule itself is unchanged: 90 days within any 180-day period. Only the way it’s enforced has changed: passport stamps before, an electronic system now.

Bibliography and Legal Basis

  • Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 (Entry/Exit System) and Regulation (EU) 2025/1534 (phased deployment, in force since 26 July 2025).
  • European Commission official announcement on EES becoming fully operational as of 10 April 2026 (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu).

Author: MojaFirma team.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation depends on the specific facts. If something about your own situation isn’t quite clear, feel free to book a free consultation with our team.*