Are second-home owners in France subject to EES?

Several readers have asked if second-home owners who live abroad but regularly visit their properties in France will have to complete the European Entry/Exit System (EES) formalities when the new digital borders scheme launches.

The launch is currently expected on October 12, beginning a ‘phased start’ which will see the scheme rolled out over a six-month period.

This means it should be in place at all of France's external Schengen borders by mid-April 2026.

Prior to the start, France and other countries are asked to draw up a plan of how the system will be ‘phased in’, which is likely to see it start first at some border points and not others before the amount of crossing points and travellers logged increase over the six-month period.

With regard to second-home owners who have their main residence outside France, the general rule is that they will be treated the same as other non-EU/non-EES/non-Swiss national visitors, ie. they will have to register in EES.

This is because France does not have any specific legal status of second-home owner with regard to immigration and borders rules.

However, there is an exception to this if you have a temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T), as the EU states that holders of long-stay visas will be exempt from the EES requirements.

Note too that time on a long-stay visa is not counted as part of the 90/180 days rule. Checking on respect of this rule by short-stay visitors to the Schengen area is a key reason for setting up EES.

This kind of visa is fixed-term (cannot be renewed) and is typically issued for a stay of up to six months. You can find out more about them at france-visas.gouv.fr.

The Connexion also publishes a help guide to Visas and residency cards for France (available here).