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Today, Sunday, October 12, European Union countries began implementing the Entry/Exit System (EES) at the bloc’s external borders, with electronic registration of data for travelers from outside the Union through scanning passports and taking fingerprints and photos. The system will be implemented gradually over a period of six months.

What has changed?

What is new, according to the law, is the mandatory initial registration for non-EU citizens upon first entry into the Schengen Area (excluding Ireland and Cyprus), which also includes Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. On subsequent trips, it is sufficient to verify the facial fingerprint.

The passport stamp will also be replaced with fully electronic records by April 10, 2026.

The measure aims to detect illegal residents, combat identity fraud, and limit illegal immigration. “The entry/exit system is the digital backbone of our new European framework for migration and asylum,” said Magnus Brunner, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration. (CNBC)

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