The European Union is about to change how millions of travelers enter and exit its borders. Starting October 12, the long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) will go live, marking a new chapter in the EU’s border management. While the rules for who can enter remain the same, the process will now involve biometric data collection—fingerprints and facial recognition—to track cross-border movements across the Schengen area.
What Is the EES and Why It Matters
The EES, or Entry/Exit System, is designed to record biometric and passport information from non-EU citizens entering or leaving the Schengen area. This includes almost all EU countries—except Cyprus and Ireland—plus Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway. “The aim is to reduce crime and illegal cross-border movement, while ensuring that visitors do not overstay,” an EU official explained. The rule allows non-EU visitors to stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
How the System Works at the Border
When travelers arrive for the first time, their fingerprints, facial photo, and passport details will be captured at self-service kiosks. The data will then be stored for future trips, allowing returning visitors to pass through automated gates using biometric verification. Subsequent trips will be faster, but first-time visitors should expect longer waits as their data is registered.
Phased Rollout Across Europe
The EU has opted for a gradual rollout to avoid border chaos. Each member state can decide how and where to introduce EES, but by April 9, 2026, the system must be operational everywhere. Initially, countries must register at least 10% of travelers within the first 30 days, 35% by day 90, and 50% by day 150. “There might be some delays at the beginning,” warned an EU official, adding that gradual implementation and self-service kiosks should help manage queues.
Biometric Data and Privacy Rules
Travelers’ fingerprints, facial images, passport details, and travel records will all be stored. Refused entries and overstays will be recorded as well. The EU assures strict data protection policies, with information kept for three years unless renewed through travel. For frequent travelers, this means no need to re-register each time. Those who get a new passport won’t need to start over, as biometric data remains valid.
Who Needs to Register and Who Doesn’t
EES applies only to non-EU citizens, including British travelers after Brexit. EU citizens and legal residents are exempt, as their biometric data is already held. Children under 12 won’t need to provide fingerprints but must still go through other steps.
Passport Stamps and Delays
Traditional passport stamping will continue until the EES is fully functional. Once it’s completely operational, stamps will be phased out. For now, travelers may face slight delays at border points not yet equipped with the new system.
Penalties for Overstaying
The EES automatically tracks each visitor’s time in the EU. Overstaying the 90-day limit can lead to fines, deportation, or even bans from the Schengen area. To make it easier, an official calculator is available online for travelers to check how many days they have left.
ETIAS Coming Next Year
Following EES, the EU plans to launch ETIAS—the European Travel Information and Authorization System—similar to the U.S. ESTA visa waiver. After several delays, it’s expected to start by the end of next year. An information campaign will begin six months prior, according to an EU spokesperson.
Final Thoughts
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System is meant to enhance security and streamline border crossings, though travelers should brace for some early hiccups. Once fully operational, it will replace passport stamps with a digital record, improving monitoring and safety across Europe. As one EU official put it, “This is about making travel more efficient while protecting the integrity of our borders.”