EU Entry/Exit System completes phased rollout at all Schengen external border crossings

Current rules

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay in 29 European countries. This automated IT system now registers each border crossing, collecting the person's name, travel document data, and biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images), along with the date and place of entry and exit. It also records any refusals of entry. Manual passport stamping for non-EU nationals is replaced by this biometric registration system.

Overview

Biometric registration of third-country nationals is now operating at every air, land and sea external border crossing, replacing manual passport stamping across the Schengen area.

What changed in the latest version

This change greatly affects non-EU nationals who travel to 29 European countries for short stays. Their border crossings are now automatically recorded using biometrics instead of a passport stamp. This means you will no longer get a physical stamp in your passport when you enter or leave. For travellers, this system is designed to allow quicker and more comfortable automated border control and self-service options. It also helps border authorities. They can now automatically find people who overstay and more easily identify people using fake or false documents, which makes security better.

Explained simply

Imagine you're visiting Europe, specifically one of the 29 countries that are part of the Schengen area, and you're not from the EU. Before, when you entered or left, an officer would manually stamp your passport. Now, that's changed! Think of it like going through an airport gate that uses facial recognition or fingerprint scanning instead of a person checking your boarding pass by hand. The new system, called EES (Entry/Exit System), is fully automatic. When you arrive or depart, your fingerprints and a picture of your face will be recorded electronically, along with your name and passport details. This process replaces the old stamp. It's meant to be faster and more convenient for you, potentially allowing for self-service machines. It also helps authorities keep better track of who enters and leaves, making it easier to spot if someone overstays their permitted time or tries to use fake documents, making everyone's travels safer.

Version history

1. v1Effective 10 Apr 2026EffectiveHigh impact
   EU Entry/Exit System completes phased rollout at all Schengen external border crossings

   People who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland — legally called third-country nationals — now register their biometrics at every air, land, and sea external border crossing. This replaces manual passport stamping across the Schengen Area.