As of October 12, 2025, new rules for crossing external borders for citizens of non-EU countries came into effect in 29 European countries, including all Schengen Area states. Now, biometric data will be recorded upon entry and exit from the EU via the Electronic Entry/Exit System (EES), which will replace traditional passport stamps.

According to the European Commission, the EES system is designed to speed up border control and improve security at the EU's external borders. It will collect fingerprints and photographs of travelers arriving for short stays—up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The data will be stored in a common European database accessible to border and law enforcement agencies in all Schengen countries.

The new system is being implemented gradually. The full transition to electronic format is planned for April 10, 2026. Initially, EES was launched in the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Luxembourg, and Germany has begun using it at Düsseldorf Airport.

European authorities note that the EES will become "the digital foundation of a new pan-European migration and asylum system." The system will identify overstayers, prevent document forgery, and combat illegal migration.

The next stage of digitalization will be the implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will come into force at the end of 2026 and will require prior online entry authorization to Schengen countries for citizens of visa-exempt countries.