Navy bases in Italy are advising U.S. military personnel and their families to follow updated rules when entering or leaving European Union countries to avoid drawing unwanted scrutiny from immigration officials when traveling. (German federal police via European Commission)
NAPLES, Italy — Navy bases in Italy are advising U.S. military personnel and their families to follow updated rules when entering or leaving European Union countries to avoid drawing unwanted scrutiny from immigration officials when traveling.
All Defense Department members must use the resident passport control line when entering or leaving Italy or other EU countries, according to updated travel guidance recently issued by Naval Support Activity Naples and Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily.
Failure to do so could result in registration in the European Union Entry/Exit System, which may incorrectly flag DOD personnel for overstaying their allowed time in Italy the next time they travel outside the country and attempt to re-enter, the bases said.
Effective since October, EES is an automated identification check system that digitally records the entry and exit of most non-EU nationals to Schengen countries. It eventually will replace passport stamping.
The system collects personal information, such as a person’s name and birth date, from travelers staying in a country 90 days or fewer. A facial photo and fingerprints also are collected and are among data stored for about three years, according to the EU.
Participating countries include Germany, Spain and Italy, where large numbers of DOD personnel live and work. The system also includes Switzerland and Norway, among other Schengen countries.
Schengen countries allow U.S. citizens to visit for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or other purposes without a visa, according to the State Department.
But military dependents, DOD civilians and contractors and their families typically stay in those countries much longer, sometimes requiring an official or no-fee U.S. passport and special visas or permits issued by the country where they live.
For example, under NATO’s Status of Forces Agreement, Defense Department dependents, civilians and contractors must have a sojourner’s permit to reside and work in Italy. The requirement does not apply to active-duty or reserve service members.
The updated travel guidelines also require military dependents, civilians and contractors to use their digital Italian sojourner’s permit or no-fee or official passport with visa when entering or exiting Italy or other EU countries.
Active-duty service members must use NATO orders and military identification cards in the same instances, the advisories state.
A tourist passport must be used when entering or leaving non-EU countries. People traveling to and from the U.S. are required to use their no-fee, official or tourist passport and military ID, the bases said.
The U.S. Embassy in Rome is establishing a way to remove erroneous entries into EES and is working to identify how military installations will process and transmit removal requests to the embassy.
Information about the process will be disseminated when available, the bases said.
People will know they are being registered into EES if passport control officers take their photo or scan their fingerprints.
The process includes asking travelers how long they plan to stay in a country, how much cash they are carrying and other questions, according to the guidance.
