Smart Borders

The EU’s Smart Borders Initiative comprises a number of measures, including the introduction of a Schengen-wide Entry-Exit-System (EES) and a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). These systems are intended to protect the European area of freedom, security and justice and guarantee freedom of movement within the Schengen area.

EES: the Entry-Exit-System is used to record the entry and exit data of third-country nationals who wish to travel to the Schengen area for a short stay. These data will be collected at the Schengen external borders. Entry refusals will also be visible in the EES and can be taken into account at the borders.
Thanks to the electronic calculation of travellers’ permitted length of stay in the Schengen area, stamping passports will soon no longer be necessary. Travellers can view details about their remaining period of stay online.

The structure of the respective systems is governed by the European regulations for the EES and ETIAS. These regulations are part of a more effective border security at the Schengen external borders.

The Federal Office of Administration (BVA) is implementing the two regulations as part of the National Project Group (NPG) Smart Borders in cooperation with the Federal Police (BPOL), the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Information Technology Centre (ITZ Bund). This will see the digitalisation of border control technology so as to prepare border control for new EU challenges.

The BVA is the national head office for the systems and as such will provide authorised agencies with a centralised technical access to the two European systems. The BVA does not make any administrative decisions on entries, exits or travel authorisations.

The national roll-out of the systems will be carried out as part of the cooperational project work across competent authorities until the systems are fully operational. Since 10 April 2026 the Enty-Exit-System (EES) is in full operation at airports and seaports throughout Germany. ETIAS is currently scheduled to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2026.

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