A serious glitch in Europe’s new electronic border system (EES) is ensnaring Israeli travelers, wrongly flagging them as having overstayed the permitted 90-day limit. The consequences are severe: fines of up to €10,000 and entry bans to EU countries for up to two years. Even bestselling author Jojo Moyes got caught in the system’s web—she was told she’d overstayed despite spending just 23 days in Europe over the past six months.
Why Is the New System Creating Errors?
The problem stems from the system’s failure to properly record when tourists leave Schengen Area countries. The EES replaced traditional passport stamps when it launched in April, but the rollout has been plagued by long lines and disruptions. Some airports received permission to suspend the system and temporarily revert to old methods—creating coordination gaps and data holes.
Moyes discovered the flaw when her May exit from Portugal was never recorded, causing the system to keep counting her stay days. Many travelers have reported similar stressful experiences. One elderly couple said they’re now afraid to fly to Europe after their exit from Bilbao wasn’t logged. In another case, a passenger was detained at the Serbia-Romania border for two hours to explain why his entry data was missing from the system. An immigration officer in Amsterdam even told one tourist that multiple entries to Europe had created “several accounts” for him in the system, causing electronic gates to automatically reject his passport without knowing which account to check.
How Can You Check and Protect Yourself from the Error?
Fixing the mistake can be expensive, slow, and confusing. Moyes had to hire an immigration lawyer after running into bureaucratic obstacles with Portuguese authorities, who demanded a lawyer-certified passport copy and proof of exit, such as boarding passes. The most important recommendation for travelers: save all possible documentation of your trips, especially proof of exit from Schengen countries, such as flight tickets or booking confirmations.
The EU also operates an online tool that lets you check your stay status (Check How Long You Can Stay). If you discover a discrepancy or the system shows “partial data,” contact the data protection authority in the last country you visited. Your inquiry should include a passport scan and proof of your exit from the country. This step is critical to avoid being stopped at the border on your next trip and flagged as having violated the law.