From October 12, traveling to the European Union will no longer be the same. The input/exit system (EES), which will replace traditional stamps in passports with electronic records of biometric data. The measure will affect all citizens of third countries who cross the external borders of the Schengen space.
End of stamps, beginning of digitization
According to the European Commission, EES is part of the “smart borders” strategy, created to reinforce safety and make controls faster and more reliable. So far, the entrances and exits have been registered manually with stamps, a process considered lengthy and poorly effective.
With the new system, each passage will be registered in a central system that will hold data such as the date and place of entry or exit, the travel document used and, for the first time, biometric elements.
In the first use, travelers will have to provide four fingerprints and a facial image, which will be stored encrypted for future checks.
Automatic counting of the days of permanence
One of the biggest changes is the way the 90-day permanence limit is controlled in each 180 period for citizens of non-visa-free countries.
According to the European authorities, so far this count has been done manually through stamps, with margin for errors or fraud. With the EES, the calculation is automatic and shared in real time between the Member States, allowing to immediately detect irregular permanences.
Privacy and data protection
Biometric data collection raises concerns about privacy. The European Union ensures that the system fulfills the General Data Protection Regulation, establishing that the records are active for three years and may be extended up to five in cases of illegal permanence.
Access will be restricted to border and security authorities, and management will be in charge of the Eu-Lisa European Agency, responsible for large information systems in the European space.
Transitional phase
The implementation will be gradual, taking place between October 2025 and April 2026. During this period, some border stations are likely to continue to use stamps while others already resort to the new electronic system, which can lead to larger lines at busy airports and borders.
Nevertheless, it argues that, in the medium term, the goal is to accelerate procedures and reduce waiting.
A new way of traveling
EES will be complemented by Ethias, the electronic authorization system that will soon be required to citizens of visa -free countries. Together, these measures intend to balance mobility and security, placing the European Union in line with practices already used in countries such as the United States or Canada.
Also read:
