The Entry/Exit System digitally registers non-EU travellers as they cross the Schengen area's external borders, replacing manual passport stamps with faster biometric checks. Here is how it works.
The EU's new digital border system, which requires fingerprints and photos alongside a passport scan, became fully operational on 10 April. There have already been long queues at some European airports and warnings that delays could be worse during busy holiday periods.
The EU's new digital border system became fully operational in April 2026, and early disruption has prompted warnings of longer queues during busy holiday periods. Here is what travellers need to do and why delays have appeared.
The Schengen area lets more than 450 million people move between member countries without internal border checks. Here is how it works, which countries belong, and how its external borders are protected.
At the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 8 December 2025, EU ministers settled positions on speeding up returns, agreed a 2026 solidarity pool and approved a roadmap to connect the bloc's border IT systems. Here are the main outcomes.
With the EU's Entry/Exit System rolling out from 12 October, many travellers heading to Germany this autumn are unsure what extra scrutiny they will face. The early reality is likely to be patchy rather than dramatic.
Meeting in Budva in October 2024, EU and Western Balkan ministers reaffirmed close cooperation on justice and home affairs, from fighting trafficking to aligning visa policies and preparing for the EES and ETIAS.
The EU's new Entry/Exit System has been pushed back again, with a fresh launch date pencilled in for November 2024. To avoid chaos at busy crossings, officials have also softened the biometric requirement with a 'relief valve' that could excuse many travellers on first entry.
The EU plans to digitise its external border with biometric checks and a pre-travel fee for visa-free visitors. Here is how the EES and ETIAS work, what they cost and why they have drawn both support and criticism.