European Union (EU) member states have begun the phased implementation of a new digital entry and exit system at the bloc’s external borders, marking a major step in modernising its border management.
The Entry/Exit System (EES)- an automated mechanism for recording the movement of non-EU nationals- officially went live on Sunday. Under this system, passengers entering or leaving the EU will have their passports scanned and biometric data, including fingerprints and facial photographs, electronically recorded.
The rollout will continue over the next 6 months. The initiative is designed to strengthen migration control by identifying visa overstayers, combating identity fraud, and curbing illegal migration- a rising political concern in several European countries.
“The Entry/Exit System is the digital backbone of our new common European migration and asylum framework,” said European Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner in a statement.
Non-EU nationals will be required to register their personal and biometric information the first time they cross into the Schengen zone, which covers most EU countries except Ireland and Cyprus, but also includes non-EU members Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
After the initial registration, subsequent crossings will only need facial recognition for verification. Once fully operational, the EES will replace traditional passport stamping with digital records by April 10, 2026.
“Every third country national who arrives at an external border will undergo identity verification, security screening, and registration in the EU databases,” Brunner added.
At Croatia’s Bajakovo checkpoint on the Serbian border- one of the first to introduce the new system- travellers reported minor delays as the process was implemented.
“There are 5 lanes open, so it took us about 20 minutes in line and about 2 minutes (in the booth) for each of the 5 of us from the car,” said Dalibor Vranic, a Serbian citizen.
For UK nationals, the digital checks are being integrated at exit points including the Port of Dover, the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, and London’s St Pancras International, where passengers undergo pre-departure screening.
As of Sunday, only freight and coach vehicles at Dover and Eurotunnel were subject to EES verification, with private car checks expected to start in November and full implementation at Eurotunnel by year-end. The Eurostar terminal has begun the process gradually, starting with select business travellers.
“The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration,” said British Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris.
The EU’s digital border transformation aims to make travel more secure and efficient, while ensuring better tracking of visitors across Europe’s shared frontiers.
