10/10/2025
🇪🇺 Important update for travellers to Europe (Schengen Area)! 🛂
Starting 12 October 2025, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will officially launch across the 29 countries of the Schengen Area.
👉 Learn more here
This new system changes how non-EU/EEA citizens enter and exit Europe for short stays (tourism, business, etc.):
✅ On your first entry after 12 October, your personal and biometric data (face scan and fingerprints) will be digitally registered.
✅ Each time you enter or leave the Schengen Area, your movements will be automatically recorded — no more passport stamps.
✅ The system will be rolled out gradually over the next six months (until April 2026), so some border points may still use manual stamping during the transition.
What travellers should know:
1️⃣ Non-EU/EEA travellers must register biometrics when entering the Schengen Area for the first time after 12 October.
2️⃣ Future border crossings will be quicker since your data will already be in the system.
3️⃣ Children under 12 are generally exempt from fingerprint collection.
4️⃣ You may still receive a passport stamp during the rollout period.
5️⃣ If you’re already in Europe when EES starts, your exit will be recorded when you leave.
6️⃣ Refusing biometric registration may result in denied entry.
✈️ Tip: Arrive a bit earlier at airports and land borders during the first weeks — delays are expected as the system goes live.
Learn more on the official EU site:
🔗 European Commission – Entry/Exit System (EES)
🔗 EU Delegation Info Page
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