A digital revolution at Europe’s borders

On April 10, 2026, the European Union completed the implementation of the EES (Entry/Exit System), a modern, digital border control system within the Schengen Area. 

This is one of the biggest changes in border management in recent years and effectively marks the end of traditional passport stamping.

From now on, every entry and exit of a non-EU citizen is automatically recorded in the system, including the date, place of crossing, and biometric data such as fingerprints and facial scans. 

The system covers all Schengen countries, including Norway.

The main goal of EES is to improve security, reduce misuse, and more effectively detect people who overstay their allowed time.

However for the transport industry, it is the beginning of significant changes.

EES in practice

The new system applies to all third-country nationals, including drivers from Ukraine, Belarus,Balkans or the United Kingdom, who enter the Schengen Area for short stays and do not have a residence permit in the EU or EEA.

The most important change is the full automation of stay control, where the system automatically calculates how many days a person has spent in Schengen and enforces the rule of a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.

Professional drivers and the 90/180-day rule

For truck drivers from outside Schengen, it is a fundamental change in how they can operate. Previously, the passport stamp system allowed some flexibility. Now, every day of stay is counted automatically, and every border crossing is recorded.

In practice, a driver without a residence permit can stay and work within Schengen for a maximum of 90 days within six months.

For the transport sector, which relies on long working cycles and constant movement between countries, this is a serious limitation. Drivers spend most of their working time physically within Schengen, which means they quickly use up their allowed days.

Who does not have to worry about EES ? 

Every non‑EU driver who is legally employed by an EU transport company and holds a valid EU/Schengen residence permit or long‑stay work visa is excluded from EES for as long as that status remains valid and is used at the border.

 What you have to be aware of even if you have valid EU/Schengen residence permit or long‑stay work visa?

Impact on logistics and daily operations

The implementation of EES has a real impact on transport operations. In the initial phase, longer border crossing times can be expected, especially in ports and ferry terminals as well as at EU borders. Procedures related to biometric data collection and new technologies may cause delays, which will affect delivery schedules.

For transport companies, this means the need for more precise route planning, increased time uncertainty, and potentially higher operating costs.

Pressure on the labor market

One of the most serious consequences of EES may be reduced availability of non-EU drivers. Time limits force more frequent staff rotations and make it harder to maintain continuity of operations.

As a result, drivers with legal residence in EU or EEA countries become increasingly valuable. For companies operating in the EU and Norway, this is a significant challenge, especially as the transport industry has already been facing driver shortages for a long time.