The Entry/Exit System (EES):
From October 12, 2025, the European Union (EU) will begin implementing its long-delayed biometric Entry/Exit System (EES), marking a major change in how non-EU citizens, including British travellers, enter and leave the Schengen area.
- The EES is a biometric border control system designed to digitally record the entry and exit of all non-European Union citizens visiting the Schengen Area.
- It replaces the manual passport-stamping process with automated electronic verification of travellers’ identities.
- Implemented by the European Union (EU) under its Smart Borders initiative.
- Aim:
- To streamline border procedures and enhance efficiency through automation.
- To combat illegal migration and identify individuals who overstay beyond the 90-day limit in any 180-day period.
- To strengthen the security and integrity of the Schengen Zone’s external borders.