The EU’s much-vaunted Entry/Exit System (EES) goes live across the Schengen Area from 12th October 2025, in a phased rollout over six months. By April 2026 all airports and official Border Crossing Points (BCPs) will cease passport stamping, replaced by biometric kiosks or devices.
As many maritime ports will not have operational EES technology from the outset, the delay creates a significant interim vulnerability. The primary risk is that an electronic entry record (by air or sea) may not be successfully linked to a later exit, potentially generating an overstay alert.
Key interim procedure
Regardless of any electronic EES registration at the airport of arrival, crew must ensure the border officer physically stamps their passport. This stamp provides the essential, verifiable proof of entry that maritime border officials will require to process an exit from a seaport BCP without fully operational EES equipment.
An EES entry record created at an airport may not be immediately visible or accessible to authorities at a maritime BCP that is still using transitional procedures. A passport stamp is the definitive fallback credential during the system’s rollout.
Essential protocol for crew
Upon air arrival: Proactively request a passport stamp from the border officer at the airport immigration booth. Do not rely solely on the electronic EES process; ensure a physical ink stamp is applied.
Upon sea departure: The stamped passport must be presented to border officials at the designated maritime BCP for exit processing. The stamp is the primary document that facilitates and justifies the exit record.
Retain documentation: Keep all supporting documents, such as boarding passes and flight itineraries, to corroborate the entry stamp if required.
Conclusion
Until EES is fully operational and integrated across all Schengen BCPs, the passport stamp remains the most critical document for crew. It is the indispensable link that connects an air entry to a sea exit. Ensuring you receive this stamp upon arrival is the single most important action to mitigate the risk of being incorrectly flagged for an overstay.
NB. EES does not apply to holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
For any queries or support with visas and immigration, contact us at palma@estelashipping.net or call +34 971 722 532.