Hungary Joins Iceland, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, Romania And More In Embracing The EU’s New Biometric Border System Launching This October: What All Travellers Need to Know

Published on July 17, 2025

Starting October 2025, the European Union will officially begin deploying its new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) across 29 Schengen countries, including Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Romania. This major shift replaces traditional passport stamping with advanced facial recognition and fingerprint scanning at airports, seaports, and land borders. Designed to modernize border control, enhance security, and prevent overstays, the system aims to streamline travel for non-EU visitors while ensuring better oversight of entry and exit records across Europe. Travellers from countries like the UK, US, Canada, and Australia will be among those required to comply with this new digital process upon arrival.

EU Set to Launch New Digital Border Control System, Replacing Passport Stamps with Biometric Entry Logs Across Schengen Area by October 2025

The European Union has officially confirmed the upcoming deployment of its advanced Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border control framework designed to modernize how non-EU travelers are registered when entering the Schengen Zone. Scheduled to begin phased implementation in October 2025, the EES will be adopted by 29 European nations participating in the Schengen agreement.

Following a decisive vote by the European Parliament—where 572 members voted in favor, 42 opposed, and 67 abstained—the initiative has cleared its final political hurdle. The EES will introduce biometric-based automation at border checkpoints, marking a significant step in the EU’s broader strategy to digitize border management, enhance internal security, and simplify immigration procedures.

Digital System to Replace Manual Stamping at Borders

For travelers from non-EU countries entering the Schengen Area for short-term visits (up to 90 days within any 180-day window), the traditional ink-based passport stamp will soon become obsolete. Instead, the EES will log travelers’ entry and exit digitally, capturing biometric data such as facial scans and fingerprints to verify identity.

This transition is aimed at improving the accuracy of border records, reducing the risk of illegal overstays, and enhancing the EU’s ability to monitor cross-border movement efficiently. The system will also speed up border crossings by eliminating the manual review process and enabling automated gates at participating airports and land crossings.

Broader Digital Transformation of EU Borders

The EES is part of a larger digital overhaul being spearheaded by the European Union to streamline external border operations. The upcoming platform will integrate with other systems, such as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), to create a seamless, interconnected security architecture that strengthens the EU’s capacity to manage migration and travel flows.

With this digital leap, authorities will be able to detect individuals who exceed their permitted stay and flag potential security threats more effectively. The EES is expected to significantly reduce human error and make data-sharing among EU countries more efficient, enhancing coordination and response capabilities across the region.

In practical terms, third-country nationals arriving at a Schengen border will undergo a one-time biometric registration, after which subsequent trips will be tracked automatically using the stored data. This change will apply to travelers arriving by air, sea, and land across all 29 countries participating in the Schengen Area.

EU to Launch Biometric Entry/Exit System at Borders in October 2025: Digital Rollout Across Schengen to Modernize Security and Streamline Travel

The European Union is preparing to implement a comprehensive new digital border control framework—the Entry/Exit System (EES)—across airports, seaports, and land checkpoints by October 2025. This groundbreaking system will replace the traditional manual stamping of passports for non-EU nationals and will instead rely on biometric identification and automated border processes.

Equipped with self-service kiosks and electronic gates, border facilities throughout the Schengen Area will collect and store travelers’ biometric information—including facial scans and fingerprints—within a secure, centralized database managed by the EU’s IT agency for justice and home affairs systems.

Biometric Registration Becomes Mandatory for Non-EU Visitors

All travelers subject to the new EES must complete a biometric registration upon their first entry into the Schengen Zone after the system is introduced. For future visits, border controls will access previously recorded data, removing the need for travelers to undergo biometric scans each time they enter. Providing biometric data will be a requirement for entry, and travelers will be fully informed about how their personal information is handled, stored, and protected.

Gradual Implementation to Minimize Congestion

In an effort to avoid travel disruptions, the EES rollout will be phased across EU countries. According to the official schedule, the system should be operational at 10% of designated border points within the first 30 days. That figure is expected to rise to 35% by day 90, and reach complete coverage by day 170. While all Schengen countries must meet these benchmarks, they retain the flexibility to begin implementation at their own pace.

Authorities have acknowledged the likelihood of longer processing times during the early stages of the rollout—particularly for travelers undergoing initial biometric registration. To maintain orderly border operations, participating countries will be allowed to temporarily pause deployment at specific checkpoints if technical issues or severe congestion arise.

New Mobile App Offers Faster Processing via Pre-Registration

To help ease pressure on border systems, a mobile app named Travel to Europe has been developed to enable travelers to pre-register biometric data before departure. While optional, the app is designed to streamline the entry process, especially at busy hubs.

This technology will be tested at Sweden’s Arlanda Airport and could be extended to major airports such as Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Madrid-Barajas, depending on the success of the pilot phase. Although not required, digital tools like this are expected to become increasingly vital for managing border flow efficiently.

Who Will Be Affected?

The new system will apply to all non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area for short stays, including visitors from countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and other visa-exempt nations. The EES does not affect EU citizens, long-term residents, or individuals holding EU residence permits.

Travelers who refuse to provide biometric information will be denied entry. Additionally, the system will automatically flag those who overstay their permitted duration, enabling authorities to take enforcement actions, including issuing bans on future entry.

ETIAS to Follow EES Implementation

The launch of the EES is a precursor to the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), now expected to be activated in early 2026. ETIAS will require visa-exempt nationals to apply for travel authorization online before entering the Schengen Zone.

Unlike the EES, ETIAS will involve a background check based on biographical information such as employment, travel history, and security risks—but it will not involve biometric data collection. Once granted, an ETIAS approval will be valid for multiple short visits over three years.

Emphasis on Privacy and Cybersecurity

As the EU prepares for full-scale implementation, cybersecurity has been a top priority. The EES will interact with existing databases like the Schengen Information System II, and concerns have been raised regarding data security.

Officials have confirmed that the EES will operate in strict alignment with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). All biometric records will be stored securely with controlled access, and travelers will be informed of their rights regarding personal data collection and protection.

Rollout Across 29 Schengen Countries

The EES will be activated in the following 29 participating 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 — all participating nations in the Schengen zone adopting the new EU border system.

Cyprus, although aligned with future ETIAS requirements, will not adopt the EES initially. Ireland remains outside of both the Schengen Area and the system.

What Travelers Should Expect

The confirmation of the Entry/Exit System represents a major technological shift in how Europe manages its external borders. The new platform aims to enhance border efficiency, tighten security, and improve the accuracy of visitor tracking through biometric verification and digital entry logs.

While the long-term goals are modernization and seamless travel, visitors should anticipate potential delays during the transition period, especially at high-traffic locations. Non-EU travelers are encouraged to stay informed through official government sources, consider pre-registration options where available, and allow extra time at border control starting in October 2025.