✈️ What You Need to Know About Europe’s New Automated Border System (EES), Starting Fall 2025
Big changes are coming to the way non-European travelers enter and exit Europe, and if you have plans to visit Europe in October 2025 or later, this is for you.
Starting October 12, 2025, the European Union will launch the Entry/Exit System (EES), a brand-new, fully automated border control process for non-EU citizens traveling to countries within the Schengen Area. This system will replace the familiar passport stamp with a faster, high-tech experience designed to make travel smoother in the long run.
Let’s break it down so you know exactly what to expect and how this will affect your future travels.
💡 What Is the Entry/Exit System?
The EES is an automated IT system that will register travelers from outside the EU each time they cross an external Schengen border. This includes recording:
Your name and passport details
The date and place of entry and exit
Your fingerprints and a facial image (biometric data)
This replaces the old method of manually stamping passports. The first time you enter, you’ll go through a one-time biometric registration process at a self-service kiosk or with a passport control officer. After that, crossing the border becomes much quicker using automated eGates.
🛬 Why the Change?
Right now, border agents manually stamp and check passports, and there’s no central system to track short-stay visits. With EES, all your entries and exits will be digitally recorded, which means:
You won’t need to worry about missing or faded passport stamps
Overstays will be more easily detected and avoided
Repeat travelers will benefit from faster, automated processing
All participating countries will share the same information
Yes, this will add time to your first trip through an EU border, but once you’re registered, it should speed things up dramatically in the future.
🧳 What Do Travelers Need to Know?
When does it begin?
The official rollout date is October 12, 2025, with implementation at airports, train stations, and ferry ports across Europe.Who is affected?
Anyone who is not an EU citizen, including Americans, Canadians, Brits, Australians, and others who do not require a visa to enter the EU for short stays.Will it cause delays?
Likely yes, in the beginning. The biometric registration process will take more time at first, so plan for longer lines at major border crossings.How long is your data stored?
The EU says biometric data will be stored securely and deleted after three years if you don’t return to the region.Does this replace the ETIAS visa waiver?
No. The ETIAS system (similar to the U.S. ESTA) is a separate requirement that will be launched in 2026, but currently has no firm start date. EES is step one. See my blog article below about the ETIAS program.
🌍 Which Countries Are Using EES?
The Entry/Exit System applies to 29 European countries—essentially all Schengen members and closely associated states.
Here’s the full list:
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
⚠️ Note: Ireland and Cyprus are NOT part of the Schengen Zone and will not use the EES system.
🧭 What This Means for You as a Luxury Traveler
If you're planning a European river cruise, an African safari with EU layovers, or a Mediterranean yachting escape, your first point of EU entry this fall may take a bit longer.
But once your biometric data is in the system, you'll enjoy seamless re-entry and smoother transitions across borders.
You won’t need to repeat the process for each country. Everything is stored and shared securely across the EU border network.
💼 Why Work With a Travel Advisor?
This kind of change is exactly why working with a professional matters. I stay up to date on evolving travel protocols and handle the planning details so you don’t have to.
You’ll receive personalized guidance, tips to reduce delays, and destination insights to ensure your luxury travel experience stays effortless, even when the rules change.
For example, your next flights into Europe after October, 2025 should be either direct to your destination, or planned with extra layover time to ensure you make your connection with the delays in registering for the EES.
✈️ Let’s Keep Your Trip Hassle-Free
I’ll be sharing more travel updates like this in my private Facebook group, where you’ll find tips, travel news, and behind-the-scenes insight from my own journeys. You're invited to join us—and feel free to invite friends and family who love to travel smart.
Let’s make your next adventure stress-free, stylish, and streamlined—even at the border.