Andorran Border Police Struggle with EU Entry/Exit System Lacking Stamps and Database Access

Police at Andorra's borders with Spain and France express growing unease over the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), in effect since last Friday, which has eliminated manual passport stamps for non-EU nationals and left officers without quick visual checks on Schengen stay compliance.

The EES introduces biometric controls at equipped border points to digitise entry and exit records for third-country nationals, gradually replacing ink stamps. Andorran police lack scanners, direct access to Schengen databases, or connectivity—limitations government sources say will continue indefinitely. Previously, stamps revealed entry and exit countries, dates, and potential overstays beyond the 90-day limit, allowing officers to deny entry, conduct informal queries through international contacts, or flag risks. Now, without these cues, staff at crossings like the Runer River feel "desamparados," or unsupported, as Spain and France ramp up enforcement against overstays.

Government officials confirm the challenge but downplay it, noting stamps never provided full security and that Andorra has never had, nor will have, Schengen database access. Officers now depend on ad-hoc measures, including Andorra's own databases and Interpol. Non-EU work permit applicants must self-certify regular Schengen status with alternative proof, such as flight tickets, relying on their good faith until bilateral border management agreements with neighbours take effect.

Those pacts, building on a general framework with the European Commission, will enhance police collaboration for worker vetting and random checks, officials say. No timeline has been set, though the current low hiring season limits immediate strain. The executive maintains overall security protocols remain unchanged.