Almost 7,000 travellers have been denied entry to Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone for overstaying their permitted time limits during the first six months of the EU’s new digital border system, according to a European Commission report.
Since the Entry/Exit System (EES) was introduced last October, authorities have logged more than 66 million entries and exits by non-EU nationals. During the same period, around 32,000 people were refused entry into the Schengen area.
Of those refusals, roughly 7,000 involved travellers identified as overstayers — people who had remained in the Schengen zone longer than permitted.
The Commission did not provide a detailed breakdown of those cases, but overstays generally include travellers who exceeded the limits of their visas or breached the Schengen area’s so-called 90-day rule. This rule allows many non-EU nationals to remain in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period.
Sanctions for overstaying can range from fines to far stricter penalties, including bans on re-entering the European Union.
The report also stated that close to 800 individuals were blocked at Schengen borders because they were regarded as threats to internal security.
The figures appeared in the EU’s annual State of Schengen report, published by the European Commission this week.
The EES system, which has been phased in gradually since October, is designed to strengthen controls at the EU’s external borders. ALSO READ: The EU launches Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric border checks.
Under the system, non-EU nationals are digitally registered when entering and leaving the Schengen area. Information is shared in real time between member states, recording who crossed the border, where and when they travelled, as well as any refusals of entry. The system replaces the traditional manual passport stamp process.
Although the EES was meant to be fully operational from 10 April, it is still not functioning for travellers at many crossing points — particularly at major UK-France routes.
According to the Commission, ‘during the progressive start, the vast majority of Schengen States implemented the EES effectively, with most countries surpassing the required thresholds of registrations’.
However, the report acknowledged that some countries encountered operational difficulties. Several border points experienced long queues, while some states ‘experienced challenges related to infrastructure, for example with the functioning of self-service systems, the capacity to fully register the biometric data, and the congestion of flights in specific time slots’.
‘The option to temporarily suspend the operations of the EES, either fully or partially, was exercised only on a limited number of occasions,’ the report added.
Airports and travel industry groups have repeatedly warned that the new checks could lead to delays during the busy summer season, and have called for flexibility in how the system is implemented. ALSO READ: Airports & airlines urge EU to rethink EES rollout amid fears of ‘4-hour queues’ and summer travel chaos.
Looking ahead, the Commission also highlighted preparations for the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), currently expected later this year. Under ETIAS, short-term visitors from visa-exempt countries will have to apply online for travel authorisation before entering Europe.
‘Preparations are progressing, with coordinated efforts underway at EU and national levels to ensure ETIAS’ effective roll-out. Early involvement of travel industry stakeholders is crucial for the success of this endeavour,’ the report says.
The Commission added that the Schengen area ‘continued to be the most visited destination in the world, attracting more than 790 million travellers’ during 2025.
While the EES has broader security objectives, one of its main purposes is to more accurately enforce the Schengen area’s 90/180-day rule. Citizens of several non-EU countries — including the UK, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — can currently stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without needing a visa.
Until now, these limits were largely monitored through passport stamps. Under EES, however, entry and exit dates are recorded automatically, allowing authorities to instantly calculate the length of stay and flag overstayers when they next attempt to cross an external EU border.
UK transport and logistics groups have urged Brussels to suspend penalties linked to the 90/180-day limit, warning that stricter application of the rules could worsen driver shortages and disrupt supply chains.
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🆕 The 2026 State of Schengen Report is out.
Key findings:
🔹↓26% in illegal border crossings in 2025
🔹28% return rate – highest in 10 years
🔹66M+ entries/exits logged via Entry/Exit System in its first 6 months
Read the report 👉 https://t.co/X4hmzie1cy#SchengenEU pic.twitter.com/1mlmM4qV6t
— EU Home Affairs (@EUHomeAffairs) May 18, 2026
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