Entry/Exit System: How will it work with a temporary French visa?
If a person enters France from outside the EU prior to the start of their French visa, they will be logged
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System has been beset by implementation difficulties
Savvapanf Photo / Shutterstock
Several readers have asked how the EES will work in combination with time on a French temporary long-stay visa, in particular if the holder is also making use of the Schengen area’s 90/180 days rule.
The latter could apply, for example, if they came to France prior to the start of their visa,or stayed on in France or the Schengen area after it.
The simplest situation is where the person is simply coming and going within their visa validity period – registration into EES will not be required.
Travel on a visa is subject to the national rules of the issuing country only.
Otherwise, individual non-EU travellers are logged in the EES depending on their status at the moment of crossing the border.
So if a person enters France from outside the EU prior to the start of their French visa, they will be logged.
Upon departure, the person will have to explain that their stay comprised an initial short-term visit followed by a long-term stay under the visa.
The border guard would be able to erase their entry file from the EES as the person has fallen outside the scope of the EES.
If a person remains in France, or Schengen area, after their long-stay visa has expired, they have effectively begun a new short stay.
Border authorities should create a new EES entry file for them when they become aware of this, either within the territory, or at the border when the person exits.
The person should present any relevant evidence of their movements and clarify the situation.
