First statistics on the EES published

Digitalization at the external borders of the Schengen Area has reached a new level, and the first official data already show a clear impact on global mobility. Highly qualified academics , expats, and international students traveling to Germany have faced altered procedures since the new IT system became fully operational. The EU agency eu-LISA presented the first quarterly statistics for the new Entry/Exit System (EES) on May 18, 2026. Although this data primarily reflects the preceding soft launch phase from October 12 to December 31, 2025, it allows us, as a visa law firm, to draw far-reaching conclusions for corporate immigration practice. A precise understanding of these figures is essential for HR departments, young professionals, and high-net-worth individuals to proactively prevent business delays or even entry denials.

How does the EES work and who is specifically affected by it?

The Entry/Exit System is a central biometric database that has been fully operational at all Schengen external borders – including German airports, seaports, and land border crossings – since April 10, 2026. It replaces the traditional manual stamping of passports with automated electronic data entry. All third-country nationals entering the Schengen Area for a short stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period are registered. The legal basis for this is Regulation ( EU ) 2017/2226. This affects both visa-required and visa-exempt travelers, such as business travelers from the USA or the UK.

What insights do the first eu-LISA statistics provide for practical application?

During the pilot phase, the system recorded 8,180 entry refusals, 283 revoked residence permits, and 479 extensions across Europe . In addition, more than 492,000 exemptions from fingerprinting were registered. Although Germany represents only a portion of this initial sample, the Federal Police informed the Bundestag's Committee on Internal Affairs that the average processing time per passenger from third countries at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs has already been halved once the initial registration is completed. Nevertheless, transport companies and business associations are reporting initial teething problems. For example, automated gates are sometimes experiencing issues with passports printed with dark ink, and there are occasional ambiguities at land borders regarding the biometric data collection process.

What new risks will HR departments need to be aware of from July 2026 onwards?

The real challenge for international recruiting and global employee deployment (global mobility) begins on July 1, 2026. From this date, transport companies such as airlines will be legally liable and subject to substantial fines if they allow passengers on board whose permitted short-stay period, according to the EES calculator, has already expired. For HR departments, this means a drastic tightening of compliance obligations. We strongly recommend that companies draft deployment agreements and update their travel policies. Every departure must be recorded electronically to ensure the stay calculator is correctly updated. Unintentional overstays will be immediately detected upon the next entry attempt thanks to the interconnected databases. Mobility managers should always allow a buffer of at least 36 hours for complex itineraries that combine Schengen and non-Schengen countries and instruct employees to use the official EU stay calculator before every booking.

How will EES data influence future visa issuance in Germany?

In the long term, the data sets obtained through the EES will directly feed into the risk-based screening for the upcoming ETIAS system, which is expected to launch in mid-2027. Furthermore, the statistics have the potential to influence national visa policy under the Residence Act (AufenthG). Should the data show that rates of illegal overstays from certain countries of origin are increasing, the Federal Ministry of the Interior could tighten the criteria for granting long-term residence permits . Conversely, a demonstrably high compliance rate offers the opportunity for the currently successful pilot tests for electronic visas (e- visas ) in India and South Africa to be rapidly expanded to other countries. This would significantly accelerate the influx of highly qualified academics and specialists to Germany.

Conclusion and recommendations from our law firm

The European Exit System (EES) is no longer a thing of the future, but a lived reality at Germany's borders. While accelerated processing at airports offers relief for expats and young professionals, the regulatory risks for employers are increasing noticeably. Comprehensive monitoring of the number of days of stay is essential to protect your employees and your company from legal consequences. As a law firm specializing in visa law, we support you in adapting your internal processes in international human resources management to the EU 's new digital control mechanisms and are always available to advise you on matters of immigration-related border crossings.