The 90-day rule in the European Union will be subject to stricter enforcement.

From October 12, 2025, the new Entry and Exit System (EES) of the European Union, which digitalizes passport control for tourists from outside Europe. The measure aims to identify and prevent overstays of 90 days in any 180-day period.

The EES replaces the current manual stamping system with an automated database. The technology records every visitor's entry and exit and calculates, in real time, the length of stay. Schengen AreaCitizens of countries such as Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Japan, who do not require visas for short stays, will now have their movements monitored more closely.

"The system will strengthen security by helping to identify overstayers, prevent irregular movements, and reduce identity and document fraud," said Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Migration.

Currently, many tourists are confused about the 90-day period, especially when their passports are incorrectly stamped or illegible. With the EES, these errors should be eliminated. The goal is to uniformly address the rules, eliminating differences in interpretation between more stringent and more flexible countries.

Trips within the block

The 90-day rule remains in effect for non-EU citizens residing in a EU country and traveling to another European country for tourism. For example, a Brazilian resident in France will be able to visit Italy for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. However, since the EES will only apply to the EU's external borders, it is not yet clear how this limitation will be enforced on internal travel.

Residents and long-term visa holders are not subject to the EES. They will continue to use the manual check-in counters and present passport and residence permit.

The EES should not be confused with the ETIAS, a system that requires prior travel authorization to enter the EU. Both systems are part of the European Union's border security policy.