Schengen borders to get digital checks by 2026
European Union is preparing to implement a new border control system called the Entry/Exit System (EES). This solution is intended to replace traditional passport stamping at the external borders of the Schengen Area. Data of travelers from outside the EU will be registered electronically.
According to the plan adopted by the EU Council and the European Parliament, the EES system is scheduled to launch in October of this year. The rollout will last six months and is expected to be completed by March 2026. During this time, the system will be deployed at all external borders of the Schengen Area.
The system will be integrated with the European Visa Information System (VIS) to enable faster and more effective border checks.
What data will be collected?
The new system includes the registration of:
- Personal data: full name, date of birth, citizenship, type of travel document,
- Biometric data: facial image and fingerprints,
- Border crossing details: date, time, place of entry and exit,
- Information on refusals of entry, length of stay, and any overstay of the allowed period.
This data will be stored for three years in the case of a legal stay, and for five years if the traveler exceeds the permitted time of stay within the European Union.
The U.S. has been using similar solutions for years
The EES may be new in Europe, but similar systems have been in place in the United States for many years. The American US-VISIT program, later expanded to include Biometric Exit, records biometric data of all non-U.S. citizens. Biometric data (facial images and fingerprints) are collected both upon entry and exit. The system is used to detect illegal stays and to identify individuals suspected of criminal activity or threats to national security.
