Brussels, October 11, 2025 (WAL) – The European Economic and Security Area is preparing to implement one of the most important technological systems in travel and border management, as the new European Entry/Exit System (EES) will come into effect tomorrow, Sunday, October 12, 2025. This marks a radical change in how travelers from outside the European Union enter and exit the Schengen Area countries.

The European Commission stated that this system aims to speed up crossing procedures and enhance security, gradually eliminating manual passport stamps.

The new system covers 25 of the 27 EU member states plus Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland. It will digitally record the entry and exit of non-European visitors at every border crossing, while Ireland and Cyprus will continue using traditional manual inspection methods for now. The system does not include other European countries such as the United Kingdom, Turkey, Serbia, and Albania.

According to the new system’s regulations, travelers will not be required to pre-register; biometric data will be collected upon their first entry into the Schengen Area after the system activation. This data includes fingerprints of four fingers and a digital facial image, which will later be used to facilitate entry and exit through electronic gates. The system will be implemented gradually over six months to be fully operational by April 10, 2026. Biometric data will be stored according to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standards.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) aims to replace manual passport stamps with an integrated digital system, making it easier to monitor legal residence periods and prevent overstaying by visa-exempt travelers. It also enhances border security by accurately tracking entries and exits and preventing the use of fake identities or misuse of visa exemption schemes.

This system paves the way for a broader project, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), expected to come into effect in the last quarter of 2026 after several delays since its initial planned launch in 2020.