A structural shift in European border management is facing its first holiday test.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is now fully operational across 29 European countries. This change will alter how non-EU citizens, including travelers from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, interact with border control when entering the Schengen Area. For those hoping to travel to the EU this summer, they should be prepared for these new procedures at the border.
What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated digital border control program that replaced traditional passport stamping across the 29 Schengen countries of the European Union. It launched in late 2025, which means that for travelers who routinely visit the EU in the summer months, they will now have to adjust to this new way of crossing the border. This new program applies to all non-EU nationals traveling to the Schengen Area for short stays, which, according to the Council of the European Union, a “short stay” means up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
The Council of the European Union lists that the biggest reasons for the change in security procedures is to make it harder for people to commit identity fraud, and also to track overstaying travelers. It also promises to reduce wait times in the long term.
This new system will be enforced in all EU Member States, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
What Are the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) Border Procedures?
Instead of a physical stamp, the system digitally logs passport details, fingerprints, and a facial image upon one’s first entry and exit. Travelers who have entered the Schengen area in the past will already have their data, such as their fingerprints or photo, already recorded in the system. This means that at border control, officers will only need to verify these fingerprints and the photo. However, the Council of the European Union does note that there may be instances where the data will have to be collected again, so travelers should be prepared for this just in case.
Biometric passport holders will be able to pass the crossing more quickly using the new self-service kiosks that travelers will find at the EU border. These kiosks will scan passports and ask people to provide their biometric data before seeing a border guard. Because every non-EU traveler must be registered into the system, border processing is taking longer than usual, resulting in major wait times and even some missed flights at particularly busy hubs.
What Should I Do to Prepare for the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) Border System?
Arrive Early. Travelers should arrive at least 3 hours before their flight to ensure they have enough time to clear border control. Also, travelers should ensure their passport has at least 3 months of validity remaining beyond their planned departure date. Before planning their summer trips, travelers should also review the most current rules and regulations of the EES border system on the official European Union website.
