New EU electronic border system set to track visa overstays Starting October 2025

The European Union will officially roll out its long-delayed electronic Entry-Exit System (EES) on October 12, 2025, aimed at tightening border controls and monitoring the movements of non-EU nationals entering and exiting the Schengen Area.

Announced on Wednesday, July 30, by European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner in Brussels, the EES is designed to enhance border security, prevent overstays, and combat cross-border crime and terrorism, Caliber.Az reports, referring to German media.

The new system will replace traditional passport stamps with biometric data, such as facial recognition and fingerprints, and will automatically record the entry, exit, and length of stay of third-country nationals.

According to Brunner, the EES will improve the EU’s ability to detect visa overstays and reduce cases involving fake documents and forged identities. “This system will allow us to better monitor movements across borders, strengthen security, and improve data access for law enforcement,” he said. The transition to the new system will take place over six months, ending April 10, 2026, with member states required to phase in the system at their border crossings, half by the three-month mark.

The EES will apply to all EU countries except Ireland and Cyprus. Four non-EU members of the Schengen zone — Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein — will also adopt the system.

Brunner noted that information campaigns will be launched at airports and land border crossings to inform travellers ahead of the rollout.

The EES was initially scheduled to be launched in November 2024 but was postponed due to a lack of readiness in several member states, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

While the European Commission has promoted the system as a key tool for security and migration management, critics have expressed concern about possible longer wait times at border checks and the impact on travelers. Civil rights groups have also raised questions about data privacy and the treatment of asylum seekers.

In a related development, the EU recently published a list of seven “safe countries of origin” as part of its broader migration policy. The list includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Kosovo, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia. This designation is meant to accelerate asylum application reviews and facilitate the return of migrants from these countries.

However, the decision has drawn criticism from human rights groups. EuroMed Rights, a network of 68 organizations across Europe and the Mediterranean, condemned the classification of Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia as “safe,” pointing to documented human rights abuses in those states. The organization warned that such labeling is both “dangerous and misleading.”

The EES rollout is part of a wider European Commission strategy to tighten border controls and expedite deportations. In March 2025, the Commission unveiled measures aimed at streamlining the return of rejected asylum seekers. The proposal included enforcing greater pressure on migrants who refuse to cooperate or provide false information and enhancing mutual recognition of deportation decisions across EU member states to avoid procedural delays.