EU Entry/Exit system to transform Schengen travel, curb overstays, fraud

The European Union is preparing to transform its border controls this October with the rollout of a new digital system, the Entry/Exit System (EES), which will automate the registration of most travelers from outside the bloc. The initiative, originally scheduled for 2022, has faced multiple delays due to technical and logistical concerns from member states and travel associations.

According to an article by Bloomberg, the EES replaces the traditional manual stamping of passports, collecting biometric data—including fingerprints and facial images—on first entry to the Schengen zone. Non-EU nationals admitted for up to 90 days in any 180-day period will be subject to the system, including both visa holders and travelers who currently do not require visas. 

Once registered, travelers’ subsequent entries within three years will require only verification of stored biometric information, with the EU projecting this will streamline border checks and reduce wait times.

Travelers entering via Eurostar trains from London or Eurotunnel LeShuttle services from Folkestone will submit their biometric data at kiosks prior to departure, before meeting passport control officers. 

For those arriving through the UK’s Port of Dover by car or bus, the process will take place at the Western Docks prior to passport control at the Eastern Docks. Dover’s new registration system will activate on November 1, 2025, while mobile app registration, piloted in Sweden, will later offer travelers an optional, digital alternative.

Some travelers are exempt from the system. Cyprus and Ireland, the only EU members outside the Schengen zone, will continue stamping passports manually. Non-EU nationals holding EU residence cards or permits, and those entering for research or study purposes, are also excluded.

Security is the driving force behind the EES. EU officials emphasize that the system aims to deter crime, identify overstayers, combat identity fraud, and manage migration pressures. Illegal crossings into the EU totaled 75,900 in the first half of 2025—a fifth lower than a year earlier—but numbers remain significant in certain regions, including the Central and Western Mediterranean.

The rollout was delayed after EU countries were required to confirm readiness to the European Commission last September. Germany, France, and the Netherlands—handling 40% of the affected passenger traffic—cited instability in the central EES computer system and the need for further testing. 

The Netherlands said the system “wasn’t stable enough,” while Frankfurt Airport warned a failure could disrupt global air traffic. Travel associations raised concerns about potential chaos and lack of clarity, particularly for transatlantic cruise operations.

By June 2025, the Netherlands declared itself ready, considering the central system stable. France highlighted that a phased rollout at border points would mitigate potential delays, while Germany emphasized that all technical and organizational preparations would be complete by the launch. 

Countries will report rollout plans to the European Commission by September 24, with some like Estonia and Lithuania aiming for full implementation on October 12, and others, including France, Germany, and Austria, adopting a gradual approach.

The EES will also affect travel from the UK. The Home Office is supporting ports and carriers in preparing the necessary technology. Eurostar has doubled processing capacity at London St. Pancras, while Eurotunnel has created dedicated EES zones at Folkestone and Coquelles.

Looking ahead, the EES is expected to be complemented by the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), modeled on the US ESTA program. ETIAS will require online pre-authorization for non-EU, visa-exempt travelers, covering 59 countries, including the UK and the US, for short stays across 30 European nations. The pass will be valid for three years, cost €20, and is slated for launch in the last quarter of 2026.

Other European countries are also modernizing border procedures. The UK has implemented its own Electronic Travel Authorization program for EU visitors (excluding Irish citizens), costing £16 and valid for multiple six-month stays.

With the EES set to go live, the EU is entering a new era of digital border management—aiming for enhanced security and efficiency, while ensuring millions of travelers experience smoother entry into the bloc.

By Sabina Mammadli