Published on
August 18, 2025
By: Paramita Sarkar
Starting October 12, 2025, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain will join the European Union in the rollout of a new Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU travelers. This system will collect biometric data—including fingerprints and facial scans—at border control points in 29 European countries. It’s designed to modernize border management, improve security, and track travelers more efficiently across the Schengen Area. The EES was initially scheduled for 2021, but delays have pushed its launch to October 2025, with full implementation expected by April 2026.
What Is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EES is an automated information system designed to register non-EU nationals traveling to the Schengen Area for short stays, defined as up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The system will collect biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images, along with personal information from travel documents. This data will be used to track entries, exits, and refusals of entry, replacing the current manual passport stamping process.
Countries to Implement the EES
The EES will be implemented in the following 29 European countries:
AustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandItalyLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerland
Cyprus and Ireland are not participating in the EES and will continue with their manual border checks for the foreseeable future. While these two countries are outside the EES system, they maintain their own border control policies.
EES To Be Fully Operational
The EES will begin operations on October 12, 2025, with a phased rollout across the 29 participating countries. The system is expected to be fully implemented by April 10, 2026. During the initial phase, travelers may experience varied procedures at different border points, and passports will continue to be stamped.
Efftct on US Travelers
US travelers entering the Schengen Area for the first time after the EES implementation will be required to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and a facial image, at border control. This data will be stored in the Biometric Matching Service for future reference. Children under the age of 12 will not be required to provide fingerprints.
Travelers who refuse to provide biometric data will be denied entry. The EES aims to enhance border security, prevent irregular migration, and streamline the entry and exit process for non-EU nationals.
Why Is the EES Being Implemented?
The EES is being introduced to:
Enhance border security by accurately tracking the entry and exit of non-EU nationals.Identify overstayers by monitoring the duration of stays within the Schengen Area.Streamline border control procedures, reducing wait times and improving efficiency.Prevent identity fraud by utilizing biometric data for verification.
The system is part of the EU’s broader efforts to modernize border management and improve the safety and efficiency of travel within the Schengen Area.
What’s Next for European Travel?
In addition to the EES, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is scheduled to be implemented in the last quarter of 2026. ETIAS will require visa-exempt travelers to obtain travel authorization before entering the Schengen Area.
The application fee for ETIAS has been set at €20, an increase from the previously announced fee of €7.
Travelers are advised to stay informed about these developments and ensure they comply with the new requirements to avoid any disruptions to their travel plans.
