On 12 October 2025, the European Union will begin the gradual introduction of the new Entry/Exit System (EES), aimed at modernising controls at the external borders of the Schengen area by providing more reliable data on crossings. The system will register third-country nationals upon each entry for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period), replacing the stamp on the passport with the collection of biometric data such as facial images and fingerprints, which will also be used for subsequent entries. The date, place of entry and exit, or any refusals, will also be recorded.
No new procedures are planned: travellers exempt from visa requirements will continue to enter without a visa, while those subject to visa requirements – such as Vietnamese citizens – will continue to apply for a visa in accordance with the current procedures. The EES will not introduce new requirements for people entitled to move freely throughout Europe. Furthermore, the system will not apply to holders of long-stay national visas or residence permits issued by Schengen States, citizens of San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and the Vatican, citizens of the European Economic Area and Switzerland, as well as crew members, sovereigns, heads of state and official delegations.
The EES will be operational in the following 29 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Traveller data will be collected and stored in full compliance with European Union data protection rules and rights. Access to this information will be limited to border, visa and immigration authorities in countries using the EES, and, for specific purposes, to Europol authorities.
For further information, please visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu/pub and refer to https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/data-held-by-ees for information on data protection and the exercise of data subjects’ rights.