The EES came into force on October 12, 2025: the new Schengen border control system

On October 12, 2025, the new Entry/Exit System (EES) came into force. This is the European digital system for the automated registration of entries and exits of non-EU citizens traveling in the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

The EES represents an important step forward in the modernization of border controls, replacing traditional passport stamps with biometric checks based on facial and fingerprint scanning. This new system will make controls faster, safer, and more efficient, reducing waiting times and improving the traceability of incoming and outgoing flows.

Upon first entry into the Schengen area, travelers from third countries will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) and the personal data contained in their passport. All information will be recorded in the European database and managed by the eu-LISA IT center, based in Tallinn, Estonia.

For subsequent entries, recognition will be automated: travelers will be identified using their previously recorded biometric data, thus speeding up the procedure at border crossings.

The system will also store the dates and places of entry and exit, allowing for immediate checks on compliance with permitted periods of stay.

The system will be introduced gradually and should be fully operational by April 2026. In Italy, the EES is already operational at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa airports, as well as at the ports of Civitavecchia and Genoa, and will then be gradually extended to all major border crossings.

The new system will be adopted in all 29 Schengen countries, which include almost all European Union member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Ireland and Cyprus, which are not part of the Schengen area, remain excluded.

The EES applies only to third-country nationals, even if they are visa-exempt (such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and others). It does not apply to citizens of the European Union or those of associated Schengen countries.

The data collected will be stored for three years and used solely for purposes related to security, migration management, and document fraud prevention.

The ETIAS system is also on the way

In 2026, alongside the EES, the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) will also be introduced, an electronic travel authorization for non-EU citizens who are exempt from visa requirements. The authorization, which will cost €20 and be valid for three years, must be requested online before departure. Children under the age of 18 and adults over the age of 70 will be exempt from payment.

The new entry and exit system represents a decisive step towards a safer, more technological, and more connected Europe, capable of ensuring greater efficiency in controls and greater protection for those who travel in compliance with the rules.