No more passport stamps: Understanding Europe's new digital entry-exit system and what it means for Indian travellers

File photo of passengers carry their luggages at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, outside Paris, on July 3, 2025. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP)

If you are an Indian passport holder or any non-European traveller planning a trip to Europe, there is a major change you should know about. The European Union has officially rolled out its long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) -- a new digital border control mechanism that will gradually replace the traditional passport stamping process.

After several years of delays, the EU formally launched the system on Sunday, setting in motion one of its biggest border control reforms in decades.

What exactly is the EES?

The Entry/Exit System is a centralised, automated platform designed to record and track the movement of non-EU citizens across the Schengen area. It applies to travellers entering or leaving for short-term visits and will record biometric and personal data such as fingerprints, photographs, and passport details.

In simpler terms, every time a non-EU visitor enters or exits the Schengen zone, their information will be logged digitally — making it easier to calculate how long they have stayed and whether they have overstayed their visa limits.

The Schengen zone currently includes 29 countries, covering 25 EU member states along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. It is the world’s largest border-free travel area, where more than 400 million people move freely.

Who does it apply to?

The system applies to all non-EU citizens, including travellers from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, among others. Indians will also be covered under this new regime.

However, there are a few exemptions. The EES will not apply to:

• EU citizens
• Citizens of Ireland and Cyprus
• Individuals holding passports from Vatican City or the Holy See
• Non-EU citizens entering for study, research, volunteering, or au pair services

How does it work?

Travellers will be required to register at self-service kiosks set up at airports, train stations, and border checkpoints. The process is free and does not require prior registration. At the kiosk, visitors must scan their passports, submit fingerprints, and have their photograph taken. The system automatically records the date, time, and place of entry and exit.

According to the European Council, the EES aims to “improve the effectiveness and efficiency of controls at the EU’s external borders.” Authorities believe the technology will not only make crossings faster but also strengthen border security.

An official EU statement said the new mechanism “will also help to significantly reduce identity fraud.”
Rasmus Stoklund, the EU minister for immigration and integration, added, “We must do everything we can to prevent terrorists and irregular migrants from entering the Schengen area illegally. It is crucial that we maintain effective control over third-country nationals entering the Schengen Area, so that we can strengthen security at the external borders. With an EU-wide IT system, it will become easier to monitor who is crossing our borders.”

Travellers who refuse to provide their biometric data will be denied entry into the Schengen zone.

However, once inside the Schengen area, travellers moving between member countries will not be required to re-register -- their information will simply be cross-checked against the system.

When does it take effect?

The rollout will be phased over the coming months. Depending on your destination and point of entry, you may encounter the EES at different times.

In the United Kingdom, travellers using the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone, or Eurostar at St Pancras International will have to complete the process before leaving the UK.

The system is expected to be fully operational by April 10, 2026.

What happens to your data?

All information collected under the EES will be stored for three years, after which it will be automatically deleted, unless exceptions apply. The data will be accessible to border, visa, and immigration authorities, as well as Europol and national police forces across the Schengen area.

The EU has clarified that the data may, under “strict conditions,” be shared with countries outside the Schengen zone or international organisations like the United Nations. However, it insists the system complies fully with EU data protection laws.

What are the early challenges?

While the EU says the new system is meant to make border crossings faster, early reports suggest otherwise. Airports where EES has been introduced — such as Prague — have already seen long queues and slower processing times as travellers adjust to the new requirements.

The UK’s own system

Parallel to the EU’s rollout, the United Kingdom has begun implementing its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme -- a digital permission system for travellers who do not need a visa for short stays. The ETA functions similarly to the US ESTA model and is part of Britain’s effort to modernise its post-Brexit border system.