The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which was introduced on October 12, 2025, with a phased rollout across 29 European countries, will become fully operational from April 10, 2026.
The system replaces traditional passport stamping with a digital process that records the entry, exit or refusal of entry of non-EU nationals travelling for short stays. It captures biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints, along with personal information from travel documents.
Since its initial rollout, the EES has registered over 45 million border crossings. Authorities have reported more than 24,000 refusals of entry due to reasons such as inadequate travel justification, expired or fraudulent documentation. Additionally, the system has identified over 600 individuals deemed to pose security risks, preventing their entry and recording their details for future reference across Schengen countries.
The press release stated that the introduction of biometric verification has significantly strengthened identity checks at borders. By matching fingerprints and facial data with stored records, authorities have been able to detect cases of identity fraud more effectively. In one recent case in Romania, border officials identified a traveller attempting to enter using two different identities. Further investigation revealed that the individual had previously been denied entry to the Schengen area multiple times.
 replaces passport stamping with digital records of entries, exits and refusals for non-EU short-stay travellers, capturing facial images, fingerprints and personal data. It began operations on October 12, 2025, with a phased rollout across 29 European countries.){kind=link}