European Union authorities have announced that its new Entry/Exit System (EES) has become fully operational across all Schengen countries, thus marking a significant milestone in European border security.

The EES is an advanced technological system that will digitally record the entries and exits of non-EU nationals travelling to 29 European countries for short stays. 

The EES gathers biographical and biometric data as well as other travel information, replacing the previous system of passport stamping. It provides reliable data on border crossings, systematically detecting overstayers as well as cases of document and identity fraud.

The system began its progressive roll-out in October 2025. Since its introduction, more than 52 million entries and exits were registered, with over 27,000 refusals of entry, of which almost 700 persons were identified as posing a security threat to the Union. 

The EU’s Entry/Exit System will capture biometric data from non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area (essentially all EU states except Cyprus and Ireland, plus Switzerland, Iceland and Norway), reported CNN.

In the same way that visitors are fingerprinted entering the US, travellers to the EU will be fingerprinted when they enter the bloc — and again, when they leave.

The aims are two-fold: to reduce crime and illegal cross-border movement, but also to ensure that visitors are not overstaying their welcome.

Third-party nationals, as non-EU citizens are termed, are only allowed to spend 90 out of every 180 days in the bloc, stated the report.

According to EU security officials, the system should be simple, checking faces and fingerprints against the biometric data already on record. But creating the record will be a little more time-consuming. 

The first time a traveller encounters the system, they will have their photo and fingerprints taken, and passport data recorded. Border points across Schengen have already installed lines of self-service kiosks for travellers to register.

When you first encounter EES will depend on where you're travelling to, and when. If you're flying, you will go through the process when you land at European airports, reported BBC. 

There have already been hours-long queues at pinch points. Airports have warned things could get worse over upcoming holiday periods, it stated.

The first time they use the new system, people from most non-EU countries will have to register biometric information while having their passport scanned.

Flight passengers will register at their destination airport, said the BBC report.

But if you are crossing the English Channel by ferry from the port of Dover, taking the Eurotunnel shuttle to France, or getting the Eurostar train, it will be done as you leave the UK.

At these places, most passengers will have to follow the instructions at special kiosks, stated the report.

With the EES functioning at full capacity, registering a traveller takes on average only 70 seconds, which is a very short time period for non-EU citizens considering the high added value of entering the EU.

As of today, the System is deployed across all EU external border crossing points. The Commission remains in close contact with Member States on the implementation of the EES.

Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, said: "The EES marks a major step forward in strengthening the security of the EU and its citizens. It equips our external borders with modern, interoperable and highly advanced technological systems, reflecting Europe's commitment to ensuring strong protection of our external borders and overall security."

"It will enable authorities to identify risks in real time, tackle overstays more effectively and reinforce trust in the Schengen area," stated Virkkunen.

Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, said: "The Entry/Exit System marks a major milestone in modernising and strengthening the security of Europe's external borders."

"With the EES, we are taking control of who enters and leaves the EU, when and where. The security of EU citizens remains our highest priority, and the EES delivers on this commitment," he added.