Saturday, June 28, 2025
Travellers from Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia are joining a growing list of visa-exempt countries required to follow Europe’s new digital entry systems—ETIAS and EES—starting in 2025. This shift marks the end of traditional passport stamping and in-person visa-free access, as the European Union moves to enhance border security and streamline travel procedures. By requiring pre-travel authorisation through ETIAS and biometric registration via EES upon arrival, Europe aims to modernise entry processes while ensuring safer, more efficient cross-border movement for millions of visitors from Southeast Asia and beyond.
Travellers from Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia planning trips to Europe will soon experience a streamlined but more digitally controlled process as the European Union implements two major border security systems by the end of 2025. These updates—Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)—are designed to enhance security while improving travel convenience for citizens from visa-exempt countries. No longer required to visit embassies or submit in-person paperwork, travellers will instead apply for travel authorisation online and register digitally at European borders.
Digital Transformation of European Border Controls
The European Union is modernising how it manages travellers from non-EU nations, particularly those from visa-exempt countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. This shift comes through two critical systems:
EES (Entry/Exit System) – A biometric border management system replacing physical passport stampsETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) – A pre-arrival authorisation system for screening travellers online
Both systems are part of the EU’s strategy to maintain strong internal security while offering travellers faster, paperless entry into the Schengen Area.
EES Launch: No More Passport Stamps, More Secure Entry
Starting October 2025, all non-EU travellers entering any of the twenty-nine participating European countries will be registered through the EES. This includes visitors from Southeast Asia who travel short-term without needing a visa.
The Entry/Exit System will digitally collect and store the following:
Facial scanFingerprint dataPassport details, including entry and exit records
This automated system replaces traditional passport stamping and ensures strict compliance with the ninety-days-in-a-one-hundred-eighty-day rule for short stays. It also helps reduce identity fraud and shortens wait times at the border.
ETIAS Coming Soon: Online Pre-Approval Required
In late 2025, the ETIAS system will officially begin. It applies to citizens from visa-free countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Travellers must complete an online application form before their trip to the EU.
Key points of the ETIAS process include:
Providing personal information, passport details, and job titleDeclaring any criminal convictions or travel to conflict zonesNo biometrics are required during the ETIAS processOnce approved, the authorisation is valid for three years or until the passport expires
ETIAS is not a visa. It functions more like a travel waiver and is mandatory for entry into the Schengen Area from late 2025 onward.
Thailand: Travel Authorisation Becomes Mandatory
Thai citizens currently enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen Zone for up to ninety days. This policy remains unchanged, but the process is evolving.
By October 2025:
Travellers will be registered through the Entry/Exit System using facial scans and fingerprints.Later in 2025, ETIAS approval will be required before boarding a flight to Europe.
Thai travellers must complete the online ETIAS form in advance, pay a small fee, and await approval—typically granted within minutes or hours.
Singapore: Digital Travel Clearance Ahead
Singaporeans have long benefited from visa-free travel to Europe. While this advantage remains intact, the new systems introduce an additional step.
From October 2025:
Entry into Schengen countries will require EES biometric registration at the border.ETIAS pre-travel authorisation will be mandatory before departure later that year.
Singaporean citizens should prepare to factor ETIAS into their future travel planning to avoid last-minute issues or denied boarding.
Malaysia: New Authorisation for Short Trips to Europe
Like their Thai and Singaporean neighbours, Malaysian citizens do not currently need a visa for short visits to Europe. However, two new obligations will apply from late 2025:
EES registration with biometrics at border entry points from October 2025ETIAS online approval must be obtained before flying to any Schengen country
These measures help tighten border monitoring and reduce the risk of overstays without adding much friction to the travel process.
Indonesia: No Change in Visa Requirement but New Border Protocols
Indonesian citizens must still apply for a Schengen visa through standard embassy or VFS procedures. That requirement is not affected by ETIAS.
However, from October 2025:
Indonesian visitors will be subject to EES registration at the European borderPassport stamps will be replaced by digital biometric checks
There is no need to apply for ETIAS, as this system is exclusive to visa-exempt travellers.
Vietnam: Visa Stays Mandatory, But Borders Go Digital
Vietnamese travellers must continue obtaining a Schengen visa through the usual application process. However, the Entry/Exit System will apply to them as well.
From October 2025 onward:
They will undergo biometric registration upon arrival in EuropeFingerprints and facial scans will replace passport stamps
Since Vietnamese citizens are not visa-exempt, ETIAS does not apply.
Philippines: EES Registration Required, Visa Still Mandatory
Travellers from the Philippines must still acquire a Schengen visa for any short-stay visit. This process remains unchanged, but border procedures will adapt.
By October 2025:
Philippine nationals will be enrolled in the EES system upon arrivalEntry and exit dates will be recorded digitally, along with biometrics
ETIAS is not applicable to Filipino citizens, as they fall under the visa-required category.
Final Thoughts: What Travellers Should Do Now
The upcoming implementation of ETIAS and EES marks a new era for Southeast Asian travellers heading to Europe. While the systems aim to make border crossings smoother and more secure, travellers must be proactive.
Here’s how to prepare:
Stay informed on launch dates for both EES and ETIASComplete the ETIAS application online before travel (if eligible)Ensure passport validity aligns with the ETIAS authorisation periodBe prepared for digital biometric processing at European borders
Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia are joining other visa-free countries in adopting Europe’s new ETIAS and EES systems by 2025 to enhance border security and simplify entry procedures. This shift replaces embassy visits and passport stamps with a faster, fully digital travel process.
With these changes, the EU is signalling a move toward a more digitised and secure travel environment, designed to benefit both visitors and host countries alike.
«Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us»