The European Union has announced that its long-anticipated Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU nationals will begin rolling out on October 12, 2025. The system is designed to strengthen border security across the Schengen Area by digitally tracking entries and exits, intended to reduce overstays beyond the permitted 90 days within a 180-day period.
According to the European Commission, member states will introduce the EES gradually over six months, with dedicated infrastructure like self-service registration kiosks being installed at border crossings.
The EES will require third-country travelers (including those from the UK and US) to scan passports and provide biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images at EU external borders. The data will be stored for three years and reused for future crossings, reducing processing times after initial registration. The system will not apply to EU citizens, legal residents, or holders of long-stay visas.
It’s important to note that the EES is separate from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is now expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026. While EES focuses on recording border crossings and biometric data of non-EU travelers, ETIAS is a pre-travel authorization system for visa-exempt visitors. It aims to identify security, irregular migration, or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors traveling to Schengen states.
Click through to learn more about how EES and ETIAS will work together to shape the future of travel to Europe.