As of April 10, 2026, the EES system is fully operational at all external borders of the Schengen area, including Polish airports. Instead of a stamp in the passport, biometric registration is used: fingerprints and a facial photograph. The system automatically counts the 90-day stay limit. Those traveling on a Polish passport or ID will notice no changes. This is different for individuals of Polish descent traveling to Poland exclusively on a US, Canadian, or British passport, as well as foreign spouses. We explain who is affected by EES, how the 90/180 counter works, the status of ETIAS, and border controls with Germany and Lithuania, as well as what to do if parents wish to stay in Poland longer than three months.
Status as of October 23, 2026. EES was launched in phases starting October 12, 2025 (the Medyka-Szeginie road crossing was the first in Poland), and as of April 10, 2026, the system is fully operational. According to the Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA), it covers all 71 Polish border crossings on the external border: road, rail, air, and sea. The last to be included was Kraków-Balice airport. The European Commission reported that over 52 million entries and exits have been recorded, along with over 27,000 refusals of entry. ETIAS is still not operational.
What is EES and what does it register
The EES (Entry/Exit System) is a European Union system that records each crossing of the external border by citizens of non-EU countries coming for a short stay. It is used by 29 countries: 25 EU countries (all except Cyprus and Ireland, where passports are still stamped manually) as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The system records data from travel documents, fingerprints and facial photographs, the date and place of each entry and exit, as well as refusals of entry. Stamps in passports are no longer used.
- The first border crossing after the system starts means full biometric registration, which takes longer. For subsequent trips, the system only checks the data.
- Data is stored for 3 years from the last exit. If the exit is not recorded after the allowed stay, this period extends to 5 years (Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226).
- The system automatically detects overstays. The translation “no stamp, no proof” no longer applies.
Check if EES applies to you
Answer a few questions, and the flowchart will indicate which part of the guide describes your situation.
Does EES and the 90/180 day limit apply to you?
What document do you use to cross the Schengen border?
Do you have a residence card or a national D visa issued by a Schengen country, or a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen?
Are you traveling as a family member of an EU citizen, together with them or to them?
How long do you want to stay in the Schengen area?
EES does not apply to you
You do not enter the system and the 90/180 limit does not apply to you. With dual citizenship of Polish and American: at the US border, show your American passport, and at the Schengen border, your Polish passport or ID. Details in the section “Who EES does not apply to.”
You are likely exempt from EES
Holders of residence cards and long-term visas are not registered in EES. Keep this document with you along with your passport and ensure it is valid for the entire trip.
You have special rights, but bring proof
According to Your Europe, a family member traveling with an EU citizen or to them is not subject to the general 90-day limit in 180. However, you must prove your relationship, for example with a marriage certificate. When traveling alone, you are subject to the usual rules. The simplest permanent solution is a family member residence card, which exempts you from EES. More in the guide about foreign spouses of Polish citizens.
Registration in EES and the 90/180 counter
You will undergo biometric registration, and the system will automatically count your days throughout the area. Check them in the European Commission's calculator and do not plan to return on the last day. If you have Polish roots, you may be a citizen of the Republic of Poland, and a Polish passport exempts you from EES. See the section “90/180 counter.”
Staying over 90 days without a residence document is an overstay
The system will automatically detect it. For a longer stay, you need a national D visa or a temporary residence permit, and holders of these are exempt from EES. If you have Polish roots, check if you are a citizen of the Republic of Poland. See the table “Five typical scenarios for the Polish diaspora” and consult the consulate if in doubt.
Who EES does not apply to
This section is the most important for the Polish diaspora. According to the Border Guard and the European Commission, the following are exempt from EES:
- Citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland, including those with dual citizenship, if they cross the border on a Polish passport or ID. A Pole with a Polish and American passport who shows their Polish document at the Schengen border does not enter the system at all and is not subject to the 90/180 limit.
- Holders of residence cards and long-term visas (national type D) issued by a Schengen country. An American husband of a Pole who has a Polish residence card is not registered in EES.
- Family members of an EU citizen with a family member residence card issued under Directive 2004/38.
- Citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City, heads of state, holders of small border traffic permits, and some train crews.
The most common mistake among the Polish diaspora. A person born in the USA to a Polish family is often a Polish citizen by birth, as citizenship is inherited from parents. However, if they do not have a Polish passport and travel on an American one, for EES they are treated as an ordinary American: biometric registration, the 90/180 counter, and the risk of overstaying. Confirmation of citizenship and a Polish passport resolve the issue permanently. We describe this in the guide on dual citizenship at the border.
90/180 counter: how it works and how to check it
The rule is: no more than 90 days of stay in any “rolling” 180-day period, counted cumulatively for the entire area. Days spent in Germany, Italy, or in Romania and Bulgaria (full members of the area since January 1, 2025) count towards the days in Poland. EES now counts this automatically based on recorded entries and exits.
Count days before your trip
The European Commission provides an official short-stay calculator. It will show you how many days you have left and help plan your next visit. Stay based on a national visa or residence card does not count towards the limit.
Do not plan to return on the last day
A canceled or delayed flight may mean exceeding the limit. Leave yourself a few days as a buffer.
Know the consequences of overstaying
The system retains data on overstays for 5 years. Penalties are determined by individual countries, ranging from fines to entry bans, and vary, so we do not provide a single amount. One thing is certain: an overstay will be visible at every subsequent check.
Queues at airports
In the summer of 2026, EES extended check-in times at many airports. Euronews reported in early July about wait times reaching up to five hours at peak times. Airline and airport associations requested the European Commission to consider completely suspending the system in July and August. Current regulations only allow countries to temporarily suspend the collection of biometric data at specific crossings during peak periods.
What this means in practice: when flying to Poland on a non-EU passport, arrive at the airport earlier than usual. If transferring in the EU, biometric registration will occur at the first airport in the area, such as Frankfurt, not in Kraków. For the first trip after the system starts, account for the time needed for full registration.
ETIAS is still not operational
ETIAS is a planned electronic travel authorization, similar to the American ESTA, for citizens of visa-exempt countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia. As of October 23, 2026, the following is known:
- ETIAS is not operational and is not accepting any applications. The European Commission has not provided a start date. On its website, it states that it will announce it a few months before launch. According to press reports, the eu-LISA agency deemed a start in 2026 unfeasible.
- After launch, there will be a transitional period, during which the lack of authorization will not yet block entry for those meeting other conditions.
- Fee: 20 euros (previously planned at 7 euros). The new rate will only apply once the system is operational. Authorization will be valid for 3 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Individuals under 18 and over 70 will be exempt from the fee but will still need authorization.
- Beware of scammers. Since the system is not operational, any site claiming to “submit an ETIAS application” is scamming for money and data. Reliable information is published only by the European Commission at travel-europe.europa.eu.
Border controls with Germany and Lithuania until March 30, 2027
EES applies to external borders. Independently of it, Poland is conducting temporary controls at internal borders with Germany and Lithuania. These were introduced on July 7, 2025, and extended by the MSWiA regulation of September 23, 2026 (Journal of Laws 2026 item 1253) for the period from October 2, 2026, to March 30, 2027. The annex to the regulation lists 50 control points at the border with Germany and 13 at the border with Lithuania. The Border Guard conducts the controls, supported by the police and military. Germany has been conducting its own border controls with Poland since 2023 and has extended them several times. Check the current deadline before traveling.
- When flying to Berlin or Frankfurt and traveling by car or bus to Poland, have the passports of all travelers with you. EU citizens only need an ID card. Checks may occur on both sides of the border.
- A person with a US passport undergoes EES registration at the airport in Germany, as this is the first external border of the area. At the Polish-German border, only documents are checked.
Five typical scenarios for the Polish diaspora
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| A person of Polish descent with only a US passport flies to Kraków | Full registration in EES (biometrics), the 90/180 counter operates automatically. ETIAS is not needed for now, as the system is not operational. |
| Dual citizenship, Polish and American | At the US border, show the American passport (as required by US law), at the Schengen border, show the Polish passport or ID. No EES and no day limit. |
| An American wife of a Pole without a residence card | According to Your Europe, a family member traveling with an EU citizen or to them is not subject to the general 90/180 limit and can stay up to 3 months in each visited country. However, they must prove their relationship, for example with a marriage certificate. When traveling alone, they are subject to the usual rules. The simplest permanent solution is a family member residence card, which exempts from EES. More in the guide about foreign spouses of Polish citizens. |
| A Pole with a Green Card and a valid Polish passport | Entry to the area on a Polish passport, without EES and without limits. The Green Card only counts when entering the USA. |
| A parent with a US passport wants to stay in Poland for 4–6 months | Staying over 90 days without a residence document is an overstay, which the system will detect. Solutions: national D visa for a stay longer than 90 days (application submitted at the consulate) or a temporary residence permit obtained already in Poland. Holders of D visas and residence cards are exempt from EES. If the parent has Polish roots, it is worth checking if they are a citizen of the Republic of Poland. |
In one sentence: a Polish passport or ID is currently the most convenient document for traveling to Poland, as it exempts from EES, the future ETIAS, and the 90/180 limit. If you are entitled to Polish citizenship but travel on a foreign passport, take care of this before your next trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a Pole with two passports, do I need to do anything regarding EES?
No, if you show your Polish passport or ID at the Schengen border. Then you do not enter EES. You use your American passport when entering and exiting the USA.
Do I need to fill out an ETIAS application before my flight to Poland?
No. As of October 23, 2026, ETIAS is not operational and is not accepting applications. Sites that charge a fee for “ETIAS” today are not official.
Does my stay in Germany count towards my 90 days in Poland?
Yes. The 90 days in 180 limit applies to the entire Schengen area, so days spent in Germany, Italy, or the Czech Republic count towards the days in Poland.
What happens if I stay a day too long due to a delayed flight?
The system will record the overstay, and data about it is retained for 5 years. Consequences depend on the country and circumstances. Keep documents from the carrier about the delay or cancellation, as they may help clarify the situation.
Is an ID card sufficient at the border with Germany?
An EU citizen only needs a valid ID card or passport. A non-EU person must have a passport, and if required by their status, also a visa or residence card.
Sources
| Source | Type | Status / credibility |
|---|---|---|
| European Commission: Entry/Exit System (EES) | Official site | Primary source (start October 12, 2025, full operation from April 10, 2026, 29 countries) |
| EC: EES fully operational from April 10, 2026 | Official statement | Primary source (entry and refusal statistics) |
| EC: ETIAS, system status and fee of 20 EUR | Official site | Primary source (no start date) |
| EC: 90/180 rule and stay calculator | Official site | Primary source |
| Border Guard: EES system (list of countries and exemptions) | Official site | Primary source in Polish |
| MSWiA: EES at all 71 Polish crossings | Official statement | gov.pl, April 10, 2026 |
| MSWiA Regulation of September 23, 2026 (Journal of Laws 2026 item 1253): controls until March 30, 2027 | Legal act | Text from the Journal of Laws |
| Your Europe: travel for non-EU family members | Official site | European Commission |
| Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 establishing EES | Legal act | EUR-Lex (data retention periods, Article 34) |
| MOS: national D visa, stay over 90 days | Official service | Office for Foreigners |
| EU Council: full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen | Official statement | Primary source |
| Euronews: EES queues in summer 2026 | Press | Reliable, describes the situation from July 2026 |
Status as of October 23, 2026. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Border regulations and the launch dates of EU systems may change, so check the current announcements from the European Commission, the Border Guard, and MSWiA before traveling.
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