In the first six months of operation of the new EU digital border system, the Entry-Exit System (EES), more than 8,700 travellers were denied entry into Europe's border-free Schengen area because they had stayed beyond their permitted time limit.
Overall, more than 108.5 million entries and exits of non-EU nationals were recorded, and 43,728 people were refused entry in the Schengen territory since the EES was first launched last October.
A total 16,383 had no 'appropriate justification of stay', according to a European Commission document, 6,141 had no valid visa or residence permit, 1,524 carried no valid travel document, and 1,128 were considered a security threat. Meanwhile, 298 tried to enter the Schengen zone on a false or counterfeit travel document, and 122 had a false or counterfeit residence permit.
But some 8,739 were due to overstays, referring to people who stayed beyond their permitted time limit in the Schengen area.
Penalties for over-staying include a fine but also the more draconian measure of being banned from entering the EU.
