TITLE II

EXTERNAL BORDERS
CHAPTER II

Control of external borders and refusal of entry

Presumption as regards fulfilment of conditions of duration of stay
Article 12
1
If the travel document of a third-country national does not bear an entry stamp, the competent national authorities may presume that the holder does not fulfil, or no longer fulfils, the conditions of duration of stay applicable within the Member State concerned.
2
The presumption referred to in paragraph 1 may be rebutted where the third-country national provides, by any means, credible evidence, such as transport tickets or proof of his or her presence outside the territory of the Member States, that he or she has respected the conditions relating to the duration of a short stay.
In such a case:
a
where the third-country national is found on the territory of a Member State applying the Schengen acquis in full, the competent authorities shall indicate, in accordance with national law and practice, in his or her travel document the date on which, and the place where, he or she crossed the external border of one of the Member States applying the Schengen acquis in full;
b
where the third-country national is found on the territory of a Member State in respect of which the decision contemplated in Article 3(2) of the 2003 Act of Accession, in Article 4(2) of the 2005 Act of Accession and in Article 4(2) of the 2011 Act of Accession has not been taken, the competent authorities shall indicate, in accordance with national law and practice, in his or her travel document the date on which, and the place where, he or she crossed the external border of such a Member State.
In addition to the indications referred to in points (a) and (b), a form as shown in Annex VIII may be given to the third-country national.
Member States shall inform each other and the Commission and the Council General Secretariat of their national practices with regard to the indications referred to in this Article.
3
Should the presumption referred to in paragraph 1 not be rebutted, the third-country national may be returned in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and with national law respecting that Directive.
4
The relevant provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis in the absence of an exit stamp.
Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals (OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 98).