The Entry/Exit System (EES) will initially operate at two border crossings in the Podkarpackie region: the Medyka-Shehyni road crossing and the Przemyśl-Mostyska railway checkpoint between Poland and Ukraine.
Authorities plan to extend the system to additional crossings in the region over the coming weeks and months, a spokesperson for the Bieszczady Border Guard unit, Piotr Zakielarz, said.
The system will also be introduced at airports, with Warsaw’s Okęcie Airport scheduled to begin EES operations in mid-November, followed by other airports across the country.
EES will record short-term stays – up to 90 days within a 180-day period – of non-EU citizens entering participating European countries, whether they require a visa or travel visa-free. The system will also log refusals of entry.
"EES will automatically track the allowed period of stay and alert the relevant member state when the maximum stay has been reached, enabling faster response by authorities," said Karolina Kowalczyk of Poland’s Border Guard Headquarters.
"EU citizens will not be subject to EES registration. It applies solely to third-country nationals," the official emphasised.
Travellers will be able to check their remaining authorised stay online through a secure portal.
Once fully implemented, the system will replace passport stamping for non-EU travellers.
Poland plans to end manual stamping of travel documents from April 10, 2026, using EES to record biometric data, travel documents, and travel dates with limited exceptions.
According to the Polish interior ministry, biometric registration ensures accurate identification and reduces the risk of identity fraud or document forgery, while speeding up border checks.
The system is part of a broader plan to implement EES at external borders in 29 European countries to strengthen security and efficiency across the Schengen zone.
(ał)
Source: IAR