Schengen Area: The European Union Launches New Digital Entry and Exit System
As of October 12, European Union member states will begin implementing the new Digital Entry and Exit System (EES), an automated system for recording border crossings at the external borders of the Schengen Area, as announced by the European Commission.
This system will gradually replace manual passport stamping with an electronic data entry process that includes personal photographs, fingerprints, and dates of entry and exit from European territories.
The new system will allow for more precise tracking of short stays for visitors—specifically, 90 days within a 180-day period—for citizens of non-EU countries. It will also help in detecting cases of overstays, document fraud, and identity theft.
The Commission emphasized that this update aims to make border control processes safer and smoother for travelers. Following a six-month trial phase, the system will come into full effect on April 9, 2026, thereby eliminating the use of manual stamps on passports entirely.
European Commission Vice President for Technological Sovereignty, Ilka Verhonen, described the system as a “major digital leap” that will make external borders “smarter and more secure.”
Meanwhile, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, referred to the EES as the “digital backbone of the new European framework for migration and asylum,” stressing that it will enable systematic and uniform monitoring of each traveler entering or leaving the Schengen Area.
