The European Union’s (EU) much-delayed Entry-Exit System (EES) will finally be set to launch on November 10, according to EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson.
EES is a new biometric system that will use fingerprints and digital photos for identification and marks a significant shift in how non-EU travelers are processed at the EU’s external borders. The system will apply to all travelers, both visa-exempt and those with short-stay visas.
The planned implementation of the EES has encountered several delays in recent years, but Johansson confirmed the date during a recent visit to eu-LISA agency, which is responsible for overseeing major EU IT infrastructure projects. She noted that the decision to launch followed "intense dialogues" with EU member states and other key stakeholders.
“Different steps are legally required before the commission could take the formal decision, but I am proud to reveal today that November 10 is the target day,” said Johansson.
“When that happens, it will be goodbye to passport stamping, hello to digital checks for all passengers from outside the EU – making travel easier and border checks gradually faster. At every single airport, every single harbor and every single road into Europe, we will have digital border controls – all connected, all switched on at the very same time.”
The EES represents the first step in a broader push to digitize EU border processes. The next step will involve the rollout of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) for non-EU travelers, with expectations to launch in the first half of 2025.
This system will require travelers from 60 visa-exempt countries, including the United Kingdom, to obtain an electronic travel authorization before entering a group of 30 European countries. The ETIAS will cost seven euros for travelers aged 18 to 70 and will be valid for three years.
