Calling all travellers: a new chapter in European border control is about to begin. From 10 April, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will go fully live across 29 countries, changing how millions of visitors enter and leave the Schengen Area.
The new system replaces the familiar passport stamp with a digital record, bringing border checks into a more modern, data-driven era.
European border control: EES
Under the EES, border authorities will digitally record:
- Entry and exit dates
- Refusals of entry
- Passport details
- Facial image
- Fingerprints
This applies to non-EU nationals travelling for short stays within the Schengen Area.
In short, instead of a stamp in your passport, your journey will now be logged electronically. The goal is to strengthen security, reduce identity fraud and, over time, make border crossings more efficient.
Already millions of crossings recorded
The system first launched in October 2025 with a gradual rollout. Since then, it has already processed a significant volume of data:
- Over 45 million border crossings recorded
- More than 24,000 travellers refused entry
- Over 600 people identified as security risks
As a result, border authorities can now share information more easily. If a traveller is refused entry in one country, other participating countries can immediately see that record.
Biometric checks to improve security
A key feature of the system is biometric verification. At border controls, travellers’ fingerprints and facial images are checked against stored data.
For example, in a recent case in Romania, border guards identified a traveller using two different identities. Further checks revealed previous refusals across multiple countries.
Without these biometric tools, cases like this could easily go unnoticed.
What travellers should expect
The Entry/Exit System will mainly affect:
- UK travellers
- US travellers
- Other non-EU visitors
- Short-stay travellers to Europe
At first, you may notice a few changes:
- Biometric checks at border crossings
- Slightly longer processing times during the early stages
- No more passport stamps
However, as the system settles in, border procedures are expected to become quicker and more streamlined.
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