Europe’s New Entry Rules Start October 2025: What to Know

Europe is modernizing how international travelers enter and leave its borders. Starting October 12, 2025, a new biometric system called the Entry/Exit System (EES) will go into effect across the Schengen Area.

Travelers will need to register facial and fingerprint data the first time they enter, and future entries will use these biometrics to verify identity.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new digital tool that records:

• When travelers enter and leave the Schengen Area
• How long they stay
• If they overstay their allowed period

It replaces the old passport stamping method and stores:

• Your facial image
• Fingerprints
• Passport details

This information is saved securely for a limited time and helps with better border control, security, and faster processing in the future.

Affected Travelers:

• Non-EU visitors coming from visa-free countries (like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.)
• Travelers entering for short stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period)
• Anyone currently receiving passport stamps at EU borders

Not Affected:

• EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
• Travelers with residency permits or long-stay visas in a Schengen country
• Children under 12 may be exempt from fingerprinting
• Those crossing internal Schengen borders (traveling between Schengen countries)

The EES will not start all at once. It will be introduced gradually over six months:

During the transition, some travelers may still get passport stamps.

1. First Entry After October 12, 2025:
   • Provide fingerprints and a photo
   • Present your passport
   • Answer standard entry questions
2. On Future Visits (within 3 years):
   • You may only need to provide a fingerprint or photo
   • The system will match you to your earlier data
   • The process should be faster
3. Data Storage:
   • Your data will be stored for up to 3 years
   • It’s used only for border control and security
   • Helps track overstays more accurately

The rules remain the same:

• You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period
• If you overstay, you could face:
  • Fines
  • Detention
  • Travel bans

The EES tracks entries and exits digitally, so border officers can easily see if you’ve overstayed.

Europe is updating its border system to:

• Improve security and stop illegal overstays
• Use modern tech like facial recognition and eGates
• Create a unified process across all Schengen countries
• Speed up the entry process over time

The EES is also a first step toward ETIAS, an online travel permit launching in late 2026 for visa-exempt travelers.

• Longer wait times during the early rollout
• Some border points may still be adjusting to the new tech
• Unclear instructions during the transition (passport stamp vs. EES)
• Privacy concerns around storing biometric data
• Border staff will need new training and equipment