After years of delays, the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is finally on the verge of implementation. On December 4, the European Commission (EC) proposed a phased rollout of the EES, a digital border system designed for non-EU nationals. Once the proposal is approved and a start date is set, member states will have six months to implement it. According to the official EES website, the system is now slated to begin in 2025, nearly nine years after it was first proposed. However, an exact date has yet to be announced.
The EES is an automated registration system intended for travelers from the UK and other non-EU countries who do not require visas to enter the EU. These travelers will need to scan their passports or other travel documents at self-service kiosks each time they cross an external EU border. The system will not apply to legal EU residents or those holding long-term visas. Information such as the traveler’s name, biometric data, and entry and exit details will be recorded. Facial scans and fingerprints will be valid for three years and can be used for multiple trips during that period.
The EES targets non-EU citizens, including UK nationals, visiting the bloc for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for holidays, business, or short visits. The system aims to strengthen border security and track travelers who overstay their permitted time in the Schengen Area. “With the EES, we will know exactly who enters the Schengen Area with a foreign passport,” said Ylva Johansson, the EU’s former home affairs commissioner, during an August speech at eu-LISA, the agency responsible for overseeing Europe’s large-scale IT systems.
The system will cover all EU member states except Cyprus and Ireland. It will also include four non-EU countries in the Schengen Area: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Despite its ambitious goals, the EES has faced repeated delays. At eu-LISA in August, Johansson expressed optimism about the system’s readiness, declaring, “The moment is finally here. There may have been times you believed it [would] never happen. But it is going to happen. Everything is coming together.” However, the planned November 10 launch was postponed yet again, marking the fourth such delay. The postponement was attributed to a lack of readiness by key countries, including France, Germany, and the Netherlands, which collectively receive over 100 million tourists annually. These nations cited insufficient practical testing as a significant concern.
Other challenges contributing to delays have included IT issues and the need to install new automated barriers at international land, sea, and air borders within the Schengen Area. Some airports even had to reinforce their floors to accommodate the heavy new scanners required for the system.
While the EES does not yet have a confirmed launch date, its eventual implementation seems inevitable. The EC plans a gradual introduction to allow participating nations to adjust their systems and address unforeseen issues. Initially, the EES will operate at 10 percent of border crossings in each member state. During this soft launch, travelers will still have their passports stamped manually in addition to the electronic recording of their data. The system is expected to become fully operational six months after the initial rollout.
Once the EES is established, travelers will also need to apply for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), a visa-waiver program set to launch six months after the EES becomes fully functional. ETIAS will cost €7 and remain valid for three years for travelers aged 16 to 70. Additionally, a new app designed to simplify entry and exit processes is under development. However, it remains unclear whether the app will be capable of collecting biometric data like fingerprints, which are central to the EES system.
The gradual rollout is designed to give countries flexibility in fine-tuning their technology and addressing logistical challenges. With the EES and ETIAS in place, the EU aims to modernize its border management, ensuring greater security and efficiency for travelers entering and exiting the Schengen Area.