Guide passport stamps will likely be changed by a digital document, and biometric knowledge — together with facial scans and fingerprints — will likely be required.
All non-European Union residents travelling to Schengen international locations might want to present biometric knowledge, in addition to entry and exit dates.
For the aim of the EES, a non-EU nationwide is outlined as any traveller who doesn’t maintain the nationality of a European Union nation or of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.
The EES is free for non-EU travellers visiting Schengen Space international locations for a brief keep. This covers visits of as much as 90 days inside any 180-day interval.
How biometric checks will work
In response to the official EU web site, biometric knowledge — together with fingerprints and facial scans — will solely must be collected on the primary go to after October 12.
The EU defined: “You’ll have to present your private knowledge. Passport management officers will take a photograph of your face and/or scan your fingerprints. This data will likely be recorded in a digital file.
“This course of may be faster in case you register a few of your knowledge upfront. You are able to do this by utilizing devoted tools (‘self-service methods’), if accessible at your border crossing level, or a cell software if made accessible by the nation of arrival or departure. In any of the cases above, you’ll meet a passport management officer.”
On subsequent visits, border checks will likely be faster.
The EU added: “The photograph of your face and/or your fingerprints will already be recorded within the EES. The passport management officers will solely confirm your fingerprints and photograph, which is able to take much less time.
“In uncommon instances, it might be essential to gather and document your knowledge once more.
“In case you maintain a biometric passport, it is possible for you to to enter extra shortly utilizing the self-service system, if accessible at that border crossing level.”
What knowledge is collected
Travellers should present their private knowledge every time they cross the exterior borders of the international locations utilizing the EES. The system collects, data, and shops:
- Information out of your journey paperwork, together with full identify and date of beginning
- Date and place of every entry and exit
- Facial picture and fingerprints
- Information of any entry refusals
Guests who maintain a short-stay visa to enter the Schengen Space will have already got biometric knowledge saved within the Visa Data System (VIS), and won’t must be saved once more within the EES.
Why the EU launched the EES
In response to the European Fee, the brand new system goals to:
- Modernise border administration by electronically registering non-EU nationals’ entries, exits, or entry refusals
- Make border checks extra environment friendly and enhance the traveller expertise over time
- Fight identification fraud by amassing biometric knowledge
- Improve safety throughout the EU
- Help the struggle towards terrorism and severe organised crime by bettering identification verification
International locations utilizing the EES
The brand new guidelines apply to guests coming into or exiting the next 29 international locations:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
EES rollout timeline
The Entry/Exit System will likely be deployed regularly throughout the exterior borders of the 29 taking part European international locations over a six-month interval.
Every nation will introduce the system in phases, together with the gathering of biometric knowledge comparable to facial photographs and fingerprints.
Border officers might not acquire travellers’ biometric knowledge at each crossing level instantly, they usually might delay registering some private data within the system in the course of the early rollout.
Border officers will stamp passports till the brand new system is absolutely carried out.
This phased implementation will final till April 9, 2026. From April 10, 2026, the EES will likely be absolutely operational in any respect exterior border factors of the taking part international locations.
Emirates points journey advisory
Emirates has suggested travellers to count on longer border checks when visiting Europe as soon as the EES goes reside.
In a press release, the Dubai-based service mentioned: “From October 12, 2025, the European Union will start introducing a brand new Entry/Exit System (EES) at Schengen borders.
“This method replaces the guide passport stamping course of with a digital document of your entry and exit, together with fundamental particulars and biometric knowledge comparable to fingerprints and a facial picture.
“In case you are a non-EU or Schengen nationwide travelling to or from the Schengen Space for a brief keep (as much as 90 days in any 180-day interval), the EES applies to you.
“Once you first arrive, border officers will acquire your biometric knowledge alongside together with your passport particulars. This will likely be saved securely within the EES database.
“On subsequent visits, you’ll not must repeat the total course of — your knowledge will already be within the system. Your entry and exit will merely be recorded digitally.
“EU residents, Schengen residents, and people holding long-stay visas or residence permits aren’t affected.
“Please permit further time for border checks, particularly in your first journey after the system goes reside.”
What comes subsequent
The European Fee has confirmed that the EES will pave the way in which for the European Journey Data and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a brand new pre-travel authorisation anticipated to launch in 2026.
