EU announces launch date for Entry/Exit System

The European Commission has set 12 October 2025 as the launch date for the progressive start of operations of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES).

The EES is an automated IT system for registering travellers from third-countries, including both short-stay visa holders and visa exempt travellers. The system registers a traveller’s name, type of travel document, biometric data including fingerprints and facial images, as well as the date/time of entry and exit, every time a traveller crosses an EU external border. The EES is designed to replace the manual stamping of passports and provide greater information on border crossing and allow for more efficient identification of overstayers.

From 12 October onwards, Member States will begin to introduce the EES gradually over a period of six months. At the end of this period, the EES will be fully deployed at all border crossing points. The European Commission says it will keep working closely with Member States to ensure a “smooth and effective deployment of the system”.

Find more information from the European Commission below.

Commission sets the launch date for the Entry/Exit System to 12 October 2025