EU Entry/Exit System Launches in October 2025
EU Entry/Exit System (EES) Launches in October 2025 – Everything You Need to Know
From October 12, 2025, the European Union will start introducing its new Entry/Exit System (EES) at the external borders of Schengen countries. This high-tech border control system is designed to replace manual passport stamping with a modern digital process. By April 2026, the system will be fully operational across all Schengen states.
This change will affect millions of travelers each year, especially non-EU citizens who visit the Schengen Area for tourism, business, or family visits.
The Entry/Exit System is an automated IT system that will store and manage the data of travelers crossing the external borders of the Schengen Area. Instead of border officers stamping your passport, your information will be recorded digitally.
The EES will collect:
Personal information (name, date of birth, nationality)
Passport details (document number, issuing country, expiry date)
Biometric data (facial image and four fingerprints)
Entry and exit records (dates and border crossing points)
Records of refused entries, if applicable
The EU’s goal is to modernize border checks and increase security for all travelers. Current manual passport stamping has several issues — it is time-consuming, prone to human error, and makes it harder to track overstays.
The EES aims to:
Speed up border crossings through automated kiosks and gates
Identify overstayers more effectively by tracking entry and exit dates
Enhance security by storing biometric information
Improve data accuracy and prevent fraudulent travel documents
The new system will impact non-EU travelers, including:
Visa-required travelers (short-stay Schengen visa holders)
Visa-exempt travelers (e.g., from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.)
Travelers holding long-term EU residence permits or national visas (for work, study, etc.) will not be required to register in the EES.
Here’s what to expect when the EES is in place:
First-time travelers will have their biometric data captured at the border (facial scan and fingerprints).
Personal and passport information will be entered into the EES system.
Each time you enter or exit the Schengen Area, the system will log your travel details automatically.
Instead of stamps, you will have a digital record that border authorities can check instantly.
Border crossings may take slightly longer during the first months as travelers and officers adjust to the new system.
October 12, 2025 – EES starts rolling out at external Schengen borders.
April 2026 – Full implementation across all Schengen countries.
This phased rollout will allow border authorities to test and adjust the system before it becomes mandatory for all non-EU visitors.
Many travelers confuse the EES with ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System).
EES: A border control system that records entry/exit data and biometrics for non-EU travelers.
ETIAS: An upcoming pre-travel authorization (similar to the US ESTA) that visa-exempt travelers will need before visiting the Schengen Area, planned for mid-2026.
If you’re traveling after both systems are in place, you’ll need ETIAS approval before your trip, and your details will be logged in the EES upon arrival.
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