03
Sep 2025
The European Union has launched its new shared Biometric Matching System (sBMS), created by IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria.
The system went live on August 25th, 2025, and is run by eu-LISA, the EU agency that manages large-scale IT systems for security and justice.
It was launched alongside the Visa Information System (VIS) and will also connect to the upcoming European Entry/Exit System (EES), which is set to roll out between October 2025 and April 2026.
A central hub for biometric data
The sBMS is the EU’s central biometric system, designed to store and compare fingerprints and facial images of non-EU citizens.
According to eu-LISA, the system allows border and migration officers to confirm identities by matching travelers’ biometric data with existing EU databases. Authorities will use it to check if someone entering Europe is who they say they are.
By linking biometric data across several EU systems, the sBMS helps prevent illegal migration, strengthens visa checks, and supports cross-border crime investigations.
Integration with other EU systems
The system launched alongside the VIS, which supports the EU’s visa policy and border checks.
When the EES goes live, it will record fingerprints and facial images of everyone entering or leaving the Schengen Area, providing biometric checks at border crossings.
Once fully in place, the EU’s interoperability framework will make the sBMS one of the largest biometric databases in the world.
IDEMIA was selected to provide accurate and fast biometric technology, while Sopra Steria contributed its expertise in digital services and national systems integration. The companies won the contract in 2020 through a competitive process.
Tim Ferris, IDEMIA Public Security’s Senior Vice President for Travel and Transport, said that the project builds on the company’s experience with secure passenger identity systems:
“With our work to design and implement the sBMS, Europe will manage one of the largest biometric systems in the world.”
Michel Lorgéré, Sopra Steria’s Deputy CEO, called the launch “a significant milestone in the realization of the EU’s Interoperability Architecture, reinforcing our joint commitment to enhancing security and operational efficiency across Europe.”
(Image courtesy of Dilok Klaisataporn via iStock)
Scale and capabilities
The new system can process large amounts of biometric data quickly. It supports Europe’s goal of modernizing border checks and making traveler verification smoother.
IDEMIA highlighted that its globally top-ranked algorithms provide both accuracy and speed in handling biometric data.
When fully linked with the EES and other EU databases, the sBMS will let authorities confirm identities in real time. This aims to stop irregular migration while making legitimate travel easier.
Stronger identity checks for travelers
The sBMS will change how people are screened at EU borders. Once the EES begins operating, border officers will collect fingerprints and facial images from non-EU travelers at entry and exit points.
Starting in late 2026, visitors from 59 visa-exempt countries will also need a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) authorization to enter 30 European states.
For travelers, this means border checks will combine ETIAS approval with biometric verification. Even with ETIAS, visitors will still go through checks on arrival, where their data is matched against EU databases.
People applying for long-term residence or asylum will also provide biometric data, which national authorities will use to confirm their identities.
(Image courtesy of EvgeniyShkolenko via iStock)
Looking ahead with the new biometric system
The sBMS now supports Europe’s border security and migration management efforts. It works with current and future EU systems, including the EES and ETIAS, to make identity checks faster and more reliable.
With this system in place, border officials gain a stronger tool to confirm identities and manage traffic at the Schengen Area’s external borders. As more parts of the EU’s interoperability framework are introduced, the system’s role will continue to grow.
Looking ahead, the main challenge will be balancing security with privacy across the EU.