The EES (Entry/Exit System) is gradually changing border control at the external borders of the Schengen area. It does not directly affect Slovak citizens — they are never registered in it. Even so, it also has an impact on Kosice Airport: it concerns fellow passengers from third countries, who are significantly more numerous in eastern Slovakia than elsewhere, and on some flights it can mean more time spent at border control.
What EES is and why it matters in Kosice
EES is an automated European Union system that records the entries and exits of third-country nationals at the external borders of the Schengen area for short stays, i.e. a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. It replaces the previous manual stamping of travel documents. It began rolling out gradually from 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational at all external borders of the Schengen area, including Kosice Airport, since 10 April 2026.
After that date, member states still had the option to temporarily suspend the collection of biometric data under Regulation 2025/1534, for a maximum of 90 days with a possible extension. However, most of these exemptions end in early September 2026 — from 6 September 2026 the system operates without exemptions and biometric data is always collected. No state can permanently opt out of the system, and no state can exempt a specific nationality either.
Who the system applies to — and who it does not
EES does not apply to EU citizens, including Slovak travellers. It also does not apply to holders of residence permits, holders of long-stay visas, citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican, or certain other precisely defined groups, such as cross-border workers.
It does apply, however, to third-country nationals arriving for a short stay. This is exactly where the topic is particularly relevant for Kosice and the whole of eastern Slovakia — the region is home to a large community of third-country nationals who live and work there, mainly from Ukraine. If you are travelling together with a family member, colleague or friend who is not an EU citizen, their registration in EES may well become part of your shared departure or arrival.
How registration works on the first and subsequent trips
When a third-country traveller crosses the external border of the Schengen area for the first time after the system’s launch, a facial photograph and four fingerprints are recorded and their travel document is scanned. Children under 12 do not provide fingerprints. On every subsequent trip, the data already stored is simply verified, which should be faster than the initial registration. It is precisely this first registration that can make border control take longer than passengers are used to on some flights.
Border control at Kosice Airport is carried out by the border and alien police department of the Slovak Police Force. Before travelling, it is also worth checking that all your travel documents are in order.
Which flights from Kosice Airport are subject to border control
Not all flights from Kosice Airport are affected by EES at all. On flights within the Schengen area — for example to Vienna with Austrian Airlines, to Warsaw with LOT, to Zurich with Swiss or to Prague, as well as most Ryanair and Wizz Air routes to EU cities — there is no border control at all, so EES plays no role there.
It is different for non-Schengen routes. From Kosice, these are mainly flights to London, operated by Ryanair to Stansted Airport and by Wizz Air UK to Luton Airport, as well as seasonal charter flights, for example to Turkey or Egypt. It is precisely on these flights that passengers go through full border control, and this is where EES registration comes into play if a third-country national is among the passengers. You can find the current overview of routes in the destinations section and specific departure and arrival times in the flight schedule.
What this means in practice for travellers from eastern Slovakia
For an ordinary Slovak traveller flying to a Schengen destination, nothing changes in practice — they go through document control as before, without biometric registration. However, if you are travelling on a non-Schengen route, for example to London, and your group includes a third-country national, expect that their processing at the border may take longer, especially if it is their first trip since the system launched. We therefore recommend arriving at the airport with sufficient time to spare.
When planning a trip from Kosice, it is also worth checking the arrivals and departures section, where you can find the current status of a specific flight, and possibly also promotional tickets if you are still choosing your travel dates.
EES and ETIAS — do not confuse these two systems
ETIAS is often mentioned in connection with EES, but it is a different system. ETIAS is a travel authorisation that visa-exempt third-country nationals will need before travelling to the Schengen area once it launches. Its introduction is planned for the last quarter of 2026, and the authorisation is intended to be valid for three years or until the travel document expires, whichever comes first. While EES is carried out directly at the border every time it is crossed, ETIAS is arranged in advance, online.
It should also not be confused with entry authorisations of non-EU destination countries, such as the UK’s ETA system or the US ESTA — these are unrelated to EES and are arranged separately according to the rules of the respective country. If you are not sure which documents or authorisations you will need for a specific trip from Kosice, we also recommend checking our frequently asked questions.
The summary is simple: Slovak travellers are not registered in EES, but the system affects their fellow travellers from third countries, and on non-Schengen flights from Kosice Airport it can mean more time spent at border control.
Cheap flights from Košice
Direct routes from Košice Airport with current fares. Prices are indicative – the cheapest one-way fare as of 11. 10. 2026.
LondonRyanairfrom €16View offer
LiverpoolRyanairfrom €18View offerLondonWizz Air UKfrom €22View offer
BratislavaWizz Airfrom €23View offerRomeWizz Air Maltafrom €26View offer
DublinRyanairfrom €34View offerLinks lead to our partner Pelikan.sk. Booking through them supports this website.