Post by : Rameen Ariff

The European Union (EU) has started rolling out its new Entry/Exit System (EES) at the bloc’s external borders, beginning Sunday. This modern automated system aims to register all non-EU travelers electronically, capturing their personal data, fingerprints, and photographs to enhance border security.

Under the EES, non-EU nationals will need to register upon their first entry into the Schengen Area, which includes all EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus, along with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. For subsequent visits, travelers will only undergo facial biometric verification, replacing traditional passport stamping.

European Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said, “The Entry/Exit System is the digital backbone of our new common European migration and asylum framework.” The system will help detect overstayers, prevent identity fraud, and combat illegal migration across EU borders.

The EES will be fully operational by April 10, 2026, after a six-month rollout. This phased implementation allows countries, travelers, and businesses time to adjust to the new procedures. “Every third-country national arriving at an external border will undergo identity verification, security screening, and registration in EU databases,” Brunner added.

British travelers will experience the new system at key UK exit points, including the Port of Dover, the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, and the Eurostar terminal at London’s St Pancras. Initially, only freight and coach traffic at Dover and Eurotunnel will be subject to EES checks, with passenger vehicles and travelers gradually incorporated later this year. Some business travelers will begin using the new process at St Pancras starting Sunday.

Alex Norris, UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, stated, “We recognize that EES checks will be a significant change for British travelers. We have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible. These modern measures will help secure borders and prevent illegal migration, protecting our citizens.”

The EU’s new EES system represents a major step toward modernizing border management, ensuring safer travel and enhanced security for all member states and visitors.

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