10 April 2026 marks a significant milestone in European border security as the Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes fully operational across all Schengen countries. Passport stamps are being replaced with digital records of entries and exits of non-EU nationals coming for short stays. Travellers’ facial images, fingerprints and personal data from the travel document are also recorded.
The fully functioning Entry/Exit System is the major milestone in modernising and enhancing the security of Europe’s external borders. By digitally tracking who enters and leaves the Schengen area, we are well equipped to identify overstayers, prevent irregular movements, and combat document and identity fraud.
Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner
The system, which began its progressive roll-out in October 2025, has already demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing security, combating irregular migration and modernising border management.
Since its introduction, more than 52 million entries and exits were registered, with over 27 000 refusals of entry, of which over 700 persons were identified as posing a security risk to Europe.
The system is deployed across all Schengen external border crossing points. The Commission remains in close contact with Member States on the implementation of the EES.
Find out more about the EES on the official website
