How the brand new digital borders system works

The EU’s new digital border system, the Entry/Exit System, turned operational on 12 October 2025. It will apply to non-EU travellers coming into or leaving the EU and can make travelling smoother and safer for all. From now on, EU international locations will begin electronically registering the info of these coming into the EU for brief stays – 90 days in 180-day interval.

In observe, the place the brand new system is already in place, non-EU nationals can have their passport information, biometric information (facial picture and fingerprints) and entry or exit information registered within the system. The registration shall be executed on the first entry and on the first exit; then, for every subsequent entry and exit, solely a quick verification shall be wanted. The new system replaces the present observe of manually stamping passports and meets the best requirements of information safety and privateness. 

Travellers affected by the brand new guidelines can discover detailed details about the brand new procedures on the Official Travel Europe website earlier than coming into the Schengen space. 

This new system shall be progressively rolled out over a interval of six months. During this time, EU international locations will have the ability to determine when and the place to start out deploying the system at their border crossings. 

The gradual introduction will assist border authorities, the transport business and travellers adapt easily to the brand new procedures. As of 10 April 2026, the system shall be absolutely operational in any respect exterior border crossing factors, formally changing passport stamping with digital data.

Strengthening the EU’s frequent borders is a key precedence for the Commission. With the entry into pressure of the information Entry/Exit System, border management will turn into not solely safer, however extra environment friendly and handy for all folks coming out and in of the EU.

For extra info

Press release – The EU’s Entry/Exit System progressively starts operations on 12 October 2025

Entry/Exit System (EES)

A brand new period for European defence and safety