The new border system for citizens of non-EU countries comes into effect, how it works
Express newspaper
12/10/2025 13:00
Starting today, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will be gradually implemented at all European airports. Full operation is expected to occur in April 2026.
This system offers a new biometric identification method that will replace manual passport stamps with electronic registration, which will be dedicated to citizens of 29 third countries who do not need a visa to enter the European Union.
The system will register all non-EU citizens traveling to the Schengen area for short-term stays, namely up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
The EES system aims to shorten queues at border crossings, as it replaces the manual stamp in the passport with a fully digital check. Passengers’ biometric data, fingerprints, facial recognition, along with their name, date and place of entry and exit.
The system will automatically calculate how many days you have stayed in the Schengen area and how many days you have left of the 90-day quota. All this data will be stored for 3 years, or 5 if the stay period is exceeded, after which the data will be automatically deleted. Children under 12 years of age are excluded from the fingerprinting process.
Underlying this system is the desire to improve control of migratory flows to Europe. In recent years, the management and security of the EU’s external borders has become an absolute priority for Brussels.
The EU has invested large sums in the development of this technology: a fund of 142 million euros has been set aside for the design phase alone. The tender was won by a consortium consisting of: the American company IBM, the Italian company Leonardo, and the French company Atos.