Starting in October, airports across Denmark, Germanu, Italy, France, Greece and other Schengen member states  will roll out the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), aiming to modernize border checks and enhance security at the EU’s external borders.

The system, as detailed in Flight Mode—a monthly publication by Hermes Airports—will replace traditional passport stamps with biometric verification. Travelers from third countries will be subject to fingerprint and facial recognition scans upon entering or exiting Schengen states.

The infrastructure rollout is already underway, with airport authorities installing necessary equipment and training staff to manage the digital transition.

How EES Works

According to the European Commission, the Entry/Exit System will record key data points for non-EU travelers, including:

  • Date and location of entry
  • Date and location of exit
  • Length of stay
  • Biometric identifiers (fingerprint and facial scans)

This information will be stored for three years and made available to national immigration and border control agencies across the EU.

Benefits of the digital shift

The EES is designed to streamline passenger flow and reduce congestion at airports—especially during peak travel seasons—by minimizing the need for manual passport checks. Authorities believe it will both speed up border control procedures and improve overall security through automated tracking and authentication.

The initiative is also part of a wider EU effort to “future-proof” air travel and border management in Cyprus and throughout the continent, according to Flight Mode.

The EES will apply to all non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area for short stays, regardless of whether they need a visa. However, EU citizens and residents will not be subject to the biometric checks introduced by the system.

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