New EU border rules: fingerprints and facial scans for non-EU travellers

From 12 October 2025 the EU will start using the Entry/Exit System (EES) at Schengen external borders to create a single digital record for every non-EU traveller. On first contact with border officials travellers will have a facial image taken and fingerprints recorded, along with basic trip details (dates, travel document and itinerary). The biometric entry/exit record will be stored for three years, so returning visitors normally won’t need to resubmit the same information on subsequent visits.

EES replaces manual passport stamping and covers visa-exempt visitors as well as short-stay visa holders — this affects Australians, British nationals and other non-EU travellers (short stays remain limited to 90 days in any 180-day period where that rule applies). There is no requirement to pre-register; enrolment happens at the border.

Implementation is staged: at least one border point in each participating country will operate EES at launch, with member states scaling up over the following months and a full roll-out across participating border points scheduled through 10 April 2026. Authorities warn the initial phase may cause longer queues as staff and systems settle in. The EU says the EES will strengthen border security and make it easier to detect overstayers, trafficking and other illegal movements.