Digital Revolution at Europe's Borders: Schengen's New Entry System

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Starting this October, millions of travellers crossing into Europe will encounter a high-tech transformation that promises to reshape border control forever. But will this digital revolution deliver smoother journeys or create new headaches for holiday-makers?

The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) represents the most significant overhaul of border management in the bloc's history. This ambitious digital initiative will replace traditional passport stamping with biometric registration, fundamentally changing how non-EU nationals enter and exit the Schengen Area.

At its core, the EES is designed to modernise border security while tackling persistent challenges, such as visa overstays and identity fraud. The system will create comprehensive digital records of all border crossings, enabling authorities to track visitors' movements with unprecedented precision. Yet this technological leap forward comes with significant concerns about implementation delays, airport congestion, and the traveller experience.

When will EES start?

The European Commission has confirmed that EES will commence operations on the 12th of October 2025. However, the system will be progressively rolled out at external borders over six months, with full deployment expected by April 10, 2026.

The system has already been delayed multiple times since its original 2021 target date, with key EU member states struggling to integrate their existing border infrastructure with the centralised EES technology.

The 29 countries implementing EES include all Schengen Area members: the 25 EU member states (excluding Cyprus and Ireland), as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Notably, this means that travellers to Ireland and Cyprus will continue to use the current border procedures.

What will passengers have to do under EES?

The EES will fundamentally change the border crossing experience for non-EU nationals visiting Europe for stays up to 90 days. Upon entering any EES-participating country for the first time, travellers must complete a comprehensive registration process at dedicated biometric kiosks. If no visa is required, the system will collect four fingerprints and a facial image directly when crossing the border. For those holding short-stay visas, only facial images will be recorded, as fingerprints were already collected during the visa application process.

The registration creates a digital record valid for three years. If you re-enter the Schengen area during this time, you will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border when entering and exiting. This should make subsequent border crossings faster, though the initial registration is expected to take several minutes per person. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting requirements; however, they will still be required to undergo facial scans.

Importantly, no advance registration is required, and there is no fee for EES enrollment. Travellers don't need to take any action before arriving at the border, though the EU is developing a pre-registration app that may become available to help reduce processing times.

Concerns?

While the EU promises enhanced security and eventually smoother travel, travellers should prepare for potential disruptions during the initial rollout period. Initial trials suggest that border checks could take up to four times longer than current procedures. Read more at EUs official EES webpage here