Schengen Border Checks to Go Digital as EU Approves Entry/Exit System Rollout
Brussels, July 2025 — The European Union has taken a major step toward modernising its border control procedures by approving a phased rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital platform that will replace traditional passport stamping for non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area.
In a decisive vote held in Strasbourg, 572 members of the European Parliament supported the proposal, with only 42 voting against. The legislation, which still requires formal adoption by the European Commission, lays out a six-month implementation plan aimed at enhancing security and reducing bottlenecks at border crossings.
What Is the Entry/Exit System?
The EES is a long-planned digital border management system designed to register the biometric data—including facial images and fingerprints—of third-country nationals entering and leaving the Schengen zone. It will also log dates of entry and exit, monitor the duration of short stays, and automatically detect overstays or refused entries.
Initially approved in 2017, the system was expected to launch in late 2023 but faced delays due to infrastructure and coordination issues among EU member states.
Under the new plan, the EES will be operational at 50% of designated border checkpoints by month three of the rollout and fully functional across all Schengen entry points by month six.
Goals and Concerns
According to the European Parliament, the primary goals of the EES are to "improve security, speed up the border check process, and reduce queues" for both travellers and border agents. EU officials argue that replacing manual passport stamping with digital records will streamline entry procedures and help prevent illegal overstays.
However, concerns persist regarding the system's initial rollout. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan previously warned that a poorly coordinated implementation could cause severe delays at major travel hubs, including St Pancras International, the Eurostar terminal connecting London with Paris and Brussels.
Though the UK is no longer a member of the European Union, it maintains close transport and economic ties with the Schengen Area. Earlier this year, Britain launched its own digital travel authorisation system for European citizens entering the UK.
What Comes Next?
The exact start date of the EES rollout will be confirmed once the legislation formally enters into force and the European Commission announces its timeline. Officials are expected to coordinate closely with member states and transport hubs to ensure readiness.
The shift to digital border checks marks a significant milestone in the EU’s broader digital transformation agenda, but much will depend on the system's implementation and real-world performance during its initial months.
Source: European Parliament – Entry/Exit System (EES) Rollout
