The European Union’s long-delayed biometric passport check system, known as the Entry/Exit System (EES), could finally launch in October this year following an agreement reached on Wednesday by member states.
EU member states approved a phased introduction of the new border check system for non-EU nationals, which will replace traditional passport stamps.
Originally scheduled to be implemented in November last year, the EES was postponed due to several countries being unprepared. According to the agreement – pending approval from the European Parliament – the system will be rolled out gradually over a six-month period.
‘We are aiming for October’ to begin the rollout, said Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency. However, the European Commission will need to confirm the final start date.
The EES rollout will happen in two stages. The second phase, which involves the introduction of electronic visa waivers for non-EU visitors – including tourists – will only be launched at least six months after the EES begins, pushing it into 2026.
First approved in 2017, the EES will use an automated system to record the entry and exit dates of visitors while tracking overstays and instances of refused entry.
Despite its intended benefits, the system’s implementation has sparked concerns about potential delays for travellers using trains, ferries and airplanes to enter Europe.
Last year, London Mayor Sadiq Khan cautioned that the system could cause ‘chaos’ at St Pancras station, the British capital’s Eurostar hub. Similarly, officials at the Port of Dover have voiced concerns about the possibility of extensive queues.
Under the EES, travellers entering or exiting the EU or Schengen Area will have their personal and biometric information – including facial images and fingerprints – collected. However, the system will not apply to travel between countries within the Schengen zone, such as trips between Spain and Germany.
The phased rollout requires member states to have the system operational at 50% of border crossing points within three months, with full implementation across all entry and exit points expected by the six-month mark.
Non-EU nationals who hold residency in an EU country will not be subject to EES requirements.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has recently launched the website for its own equivalent of the EES, called the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Starting 2 April, the ETA will be mandatory for visitors travelling to the UK on EU, EEA, or Swiss passports – excluding Irish passport holders. This system is already in place for non-EU citizens visiting the UK.
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