The Entry/Exit System, or EES, is a new digital system that registers non-EU nationals travelling for short stays using biometrics and other personal information to screen visitors. Biometrics refers to fingerprinting and photos of the face. Children under 12 do not need to provide fingerprints, only a photo.

The first time you arrive at a Schengen country border (airports, seaports, and land crossings) with your Canadian passport, you will be asked for personal information, and Passport Control officers (Border officers) will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints. This is known as your biometric data. This information will be recorded in a digital file.

Other personal information collected

Along with your biometric data, your personal information collected will include:

• data listed in your travel document(s) (e.g. full name, date of birth, etc.)
• date and place of each entry and exit
• whether you were refused entry.

Once your travel document data and other personal data is collected, including your entry and exit dates, it will be registered electronically in the system. Your information will be reviewed, and the officer may ask further questions before deciding whether to grant or refuse access to the country. The Government of Canada cannot intervene if you do not meet the entry or exit requirements of your destination.

Why are your fingerprints and a photograph of your fact taken?

Biometrics replace the old system of stamping a visitor’s passport when they arrive at a border crossing. However, there are specific reasons why biometrics are used.

According to the European Union (EU), your data is collected and processed in the EES to:

• reinforce the efficiency of external border management
• prevent irregular immigration
• facilitate the management of migration flows
• identify travellers who have no right to enter or who have exceeded their permitted stay
• identify travellers who are using fake identities or passports
• help prevent, detect and investigate terrorist offences and other serious crimes

Can your data be shared?

Yes, your personal and biometric data can be shared with other involved parties, such as immigration authorities and law enforcement. For more information, refer to Who can access your personal and biometric data collected at a European border?

What happens if you refuse to have your fingerprints scanned or a photo of your face taken? 

If you refuse to provide your biometric data, you will be denied entry into the territory of the European countries using the EES.

More information

Refer to the European Union website on the Entry/Exit System (EES) for more information.

Refer to the Government of Canada website for additional information on Travelling to Europe.

								
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