Delayed a number of times since an initial launch planned for 2022, Spain’s Interior Ministry has announced that its nationwide rollout of Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric terminals will be completed around the end of the year. 1,500 Automated Border Control eGates (ABC eGates) will be installed at all border-crossing points.
EES is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling to or through the EU for a short stay or transit. All visitors requiring a short-stay visa, or visa waiver (including the new ETIAS which had been due to be introduced in 2024, though now expected in 2025), will be affected.
The biggest change will be that passports are no longer stamped physically, but entry and exit will instead be recorded electronically on the EU-wide system. The purpose of EES is to make the border control process more secure and efficient, automating day-counting and recording refusals of entry. Travellers will be verified biometrically by a camera and fingerprint scanner.
To date, only Lithuania is ready for launch, with its borders fully equipped with the required technology.
Even though the introduction of EES has been long anticipated, there remains uncertainty, even now, about how its introduction will affect third-country seafarers. As EES involves biometric checks, it follows that ALL non-EU yacht crew will be required to attend Immigration in person, which is likely to result in long delays in ‘stamping’ in and out.
We are awaiting information from the local authorities here in Palma about the impact of the new system on completing formalities, as the manual checking of Seaman’s Books and boat papers will remain necessary. It is unclear whether Spain plans to start biometric scanning (in addition to stamping) before the whole EU system goes live officially.
As ever, we will keep you informed once we have news about the new process. If you have questions about EES and how it will affect you, please contact us at palma@estelashipping.net