Spain’s Foreign Residents Will Not Be Affected By New EES Border Controls Confirms EU
Spain News
Published: 08 November 2022 14:45 CET
Foreign non-EU residents living in Spain will not be covered by the new EES border control system the European Commission has confirmed.
In an attempt to improve the security of European borders while enforcing the existing 90-day rule, the new system will have a major impact on non-EU citizens entering the EU and Schengen area from next year with the ETIAS visa system also due to come into force from November.
However, the Commission confirmed to the Spanish newspaper theLocal that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) which is set to come into operation from May 2023, will only check non-EU tourists entering the EU and Schengen countries. Foreign nationals living in Spain and second homeowners with visas will NOT be affected by the EES system.
The Commission told theLocal “Non-EU nationals holders of residence permits are not in the scope of the Entry/Exit System and ETIAS.
“When crossing the borders, holders of EU residence permits should be able to present to the border authorities their valid travel documents and residence permits.”
It means that any foreigners who are living in Spain will not be able to use the new automated passport gates when the EES comes into force in May.
This is due to the fact that the automated passport gates only allow for the scanning of biometric passports. It is not possible to demonstrate residency in Spain using a TIE residence permit or visa.
The main aim of the EES is to enforce the 90-day limit which currently applies to non-EU nationals entering Spain for short stays. Under current rules, those wishing to visit Spain may only do so for up to 90-days in any 180-day period.
As non-EU residents living in Spain are exempt from these restrictions, they will not be able to use the automated EES system.
What is the EES Entry/Exit System and how does it work?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals visiting the EU for a short stay. The system monitors and tracks their movement each time they cross the external borders of European countries.
The system only covers travellers who require a short-stay visa and those who do not need a visa. Refusals of entry are also recorded in the system.
Once the system comes into operation, the whole process of checking and stamping of passports for non-EU nationals will become a thing of the past helping to streamline border controls.
The system will also protect the integrity of EU and Schengen area borders and help to prevent, detect and investigate terrorism and other serious criminal offences.
Sources
https://www.thelocal.es/20221108/foreigners-officially-resident-in-spain-not-covered-by-new-ees-passport-rules-commission-confirms/
