Are accredited diplomats and diplomatic family members exempt from providing fingerprints and facial images under EU VIS and EES rules in 2025?

1. What the recent coverage actually says — a consistent media line

Multiple news outlets reprinting a common briefing statement state that “diplomats travelling on a short stay may also be exempt from EES registration under certain conditions” ^[1]. The same phrasing appears across numerous local sites that republished the same item, indicating a consistent media message about diplomatic exemptions to the new EU travel biometric rules ^{[3] [4]}. These reports are reporting that diplomats — in at least some short-stay scenarios — are treated as a category potentially exempt from biometric capture under the EES rollout ^[1].

2. What the EU source in your results covers — visa policy, not specific EES exemptions

The European Commission’s visa-policy overview in the results explains visa reciprocity and digitalisation goals and notes that some categories (diplomatic staff, armed forces, refugees, pupils on excursions) can receive specific visa-related arrangements ^[2]. That page discusses visa policy objectives (digitalisation by 2025) and that member states can grant visa-free access to particular categories, but it does not set out the Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric-exemption rules for accredited diplomats or family members in the excerpts provided ^[2]. Available sources do not mention the precise legal basis, text, or definitions governing diplomatic exemptions to biometric capture in EES.

3. Gaps and limits in the reporting — family members and accreditation details missing

The republished articles repeatedly say diplomats “may” be exempt “under certain conditions” but do not define those conditions or say whether accredited diplomatic family members (e.g., dependants holding diplomatic or special passports, or family registered with a mission) are included ^[1]. The local reprints do not cite the EU regulation number, implementating act, or national practice that would clarify who qualifies. Therefore, the precise status of diplomatic family members is not found in current reporting ^[1].

4. Two plausible interpretations — official privilege vs operational rollout nuance

One interpretation, supported by the articles’ phrasing, is that long-standing international norms (Vienna Convention immunity/privileges) and national procedures often create exemptions from routine border formalities for accredited diplomats and sometimes their household members; the media message may be shorthand for that established practice being reflected in EES rollout guidance ^[1]. The alternative interpretation is that the reports reflect an implementation nuance of the EES rollout (short-stay diplomatic travellers processed differently during initial system activation), meaning exemptions could be temporary, conditional, or vary by member state and point of entry rather than a blanket permanent rule ^[1]. The available sources do not choose between these readings.

5. What you should do next if you need certainty

To determine whether a particular accredited diplomat or family member must provide fingerprints and facial images in 2025, consult (a) the text of the EES Regulation and implementing acts, (b) guidance from the European Commission / Frontex on biometric exemptions, and (c) the border authorities of the Schengen country of arrival. Those specific legal and administrative documents are not in the provided search results; the European Commission visa-policy page does not supply the needed exemption wording in these excerpts ^[2]. Available sources do not mention the exact regulation clause or a named guidance document.

6. Takeaway for diplomats, missions and travellers

Current media reporting consistently reports that diplomatic short-stay travellers “may” be exempt from EES registration under conditions, but the outlets republishing this do not provide the legal detail or clarify whether diplomatic family members are covered ^[1]. Treat the reporting as an alert that exemptions exist in practice but not as definitive legal clearance — verify with the sending state’s protocol office or the destination member state’s border authority before travel.