What's happened
Starting October 12, 2025, 29 Schengen countries began implementing the Entry/Exit System (EES), replacing manual passport stamps with biometric checks for non-EU travelers. The system records fingerprints and facial images at first entry, storing data for three years to streamline border control and monitor 90-day stay limits. Full rollout completes by April 10, 2026.
What's behind the headline?
Streamlining Border Security and Travel
The EES represents a significant modernization of European border management, shifting from manual passport stamps to automated biometric verification. This will:
- Enhance security by accurately identifying travelers through fingerprints and facial recognition, reducing identity fraud.
- Improve efficiency by speeding up border crossings once biometric data is registered.
- Enable precise tracking of the 90-day visa-free stay limit within any 180-day period, making overstays easier to detect.
Impact on Travelers
Non-EU travelers, including UAE residents, must register biometric data upon first entry, with data retained for three years. Subsequent entries require only facial verification, reducing repeated data collection. However, initial border crossings may experience longer wait times due to data registration.
Broader Implications
The system aligns with the EU's broader migration and asylum framework, aiming to balance free movement within Schengen with enhanced external border controls. It also sets the stage for the upcoming ETIAS visa authorization system in 2026, further tightening entry requirements.
Challenges and Considerations
- Privacy and data protection remain critical, with biometric data stored under strict EU regulations.
- Transition period until April 2026 means travelers may encounter both old and new systems simultaneously.
- Exemptions exist for certain categories, such as diplomatic passport holders and residents with long-stay visas.
Forecast
The EES will likely reduce illegal overstays and improve border security but may initially cause delays at entry points. Travelers should prepare by allowing extra time and ensuring biometric passports where possible. The system's success depends on smooth implementation and public awareness.
What the papers say
Justin Varghese of Gulf News explains that the EES replaces passport stamps with digital tracking, recording entry and exit dates, fingerprints, and facial images, aiming to speed up border checks and improve accuracy. The New Arab quotes EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner calling the EES "the digital backbone of our new common European migration and asylum framework," emphasizing its role in identity verification and security screening. The Guardian's Shane Hickey highlights the biometric requirements, noting the replacement of passport stamps with automated checks. Politico details the data retention period of three years, extended to five if no exit is recorded, and the coexistence of old and new systems during rollout. Al Jazeera's Priyanka Shankar provides context on who is affected and exemptions, clarifying that free movement within Schengen remains unchanged. The Scotsman warns of potential delays and advises travelers to allow extra time, noting that the system will make overstays more visible. Gulf News articles provide practical advice for UAE travelers, including the need for biometric passports and the impact on frequent travelers. Together, these sources offer a comprehensive view of the EES's purpose, implementation timeline, and traveler impact.
How we got here
The EU developed the EES to modernize border controls, improve security, and better track non-EU visitors' stays within the Schengen area. It replaces manual passport stamping with automated biometric data collection, addressing challenges like overstaying and identity fraud amid political pressure for tighter migration controls.
Go deeper
- How does the EES affect UAE travelers?
- What biometric data does the EES collect?
- Are there exemptions to the EES requirements?
Common question
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More on these topics
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders.
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The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a sovereign state in Western Asia at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and west, as well as sharing m
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India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northÂwestern coast of the European mainland.
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Emirates is the largest airline and one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates. Based in Garhoud, Dubai, the airline is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which is owned by the government of Dubai's Investment Corporation of Dubai.
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Air India Express is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Kochi, Kerala. It is operated by Air India Express Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian flag carrier airline Air India.
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Magnus Brunner is an Austrian politician. He is currently state secretary at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology in the government of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.