October 12, 2025 7:00 PM.
Starting today, travellers from non-EU countries, including India, must comply with the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES).
The system requires fingerprinting, facial scans, and passport scans upon entry into Schengen Zone countries, including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Ireland and Cyprus are exempt.
The EES aims to tighten security and replace manual passport stamping with digital records.
At UK departure points like Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone and Eurostar, checks will occur before travellers leave the UK. The system is being phased in gradually.
EES is an automated IT system for non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries using the system.
The system will register the person’s name, travel document data, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection.
It will also record refusals of entry. From 12 October 2025 onwards, 29 European countries are introducing the EES gradually or in full at their external borders over a period of six months.
Border authorities will gradually register the data of non-EU nationals subject to the EES.
EES is among the measures undertaken as part of the Security Union and will help achieve the objectives of the European Agenda on Security and the European Agenda on Migration in particular regarding border management and preventing cross-border crime and terrorism.
The European Commission presented the proposal for EES on 6 April 2016 as part of the revised Smart Borders Package. After negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council the co-legislators reached an agreement in July 2017.
The EES Regulation, together with a targeted amendment of the Schengen Border Code, were adopted on 20 November 2017 and entered into force on 29 December 2017.
On 4 December 2024, the Commission proposed to introduce a progressive start of operations for the Entry/Exit System (EES). On 19 May 2025, the European Parliament and the Council reached an agreement,
The Regulation (EU) 2025/1534 on temporary derogations from certain provisions of Regulations (EU) 2017/2226 and (EU) 2016/399 as regards the progressive start of operations of the Entry/Exit System was adopted on 18 July and entered into force on 26 July 2025.
On 30 July 2025, the Commission set 12 October 2025 as the launch date for the start of operations of the Entry/Exit System (EES).