The European Union will activate on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the Entry/Exit System (EES), an advanced digital platform that will register the entry and exit of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen Area. The rollout will be gradual, with full implementation scheduled for April 10, 2026.
With this new system, the traditional manual passport stamp will be eliminated, replaced by a faster and more secure digital registration of border crossings.
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EU to launch its new border control system on October 12
Spanish borders are ready for the change
In Spain, the National Police will remain responsible for border checks at ports, airports, and land crossings, while the Civil Guard will continue its duties in combating smuggling, fraud, and other fiscal and customs-related crimes.
The Ministry of the Interior has invested €83 million to adapt all Spanish border posts to the new model. Airports and land borders are already prepared, while some ports are still completing infrastructure tenders and installations.
The system will be inaugurated on October 12 with the arrival of a flight at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
Gradual implementation
For a six-month transition period, the EES will coexist with manual passport stamping. During this time, new tools will be introduced progressively: first at airports, then at land borders, and finally at ports.
The system will record travelers’ data, including a facial photograph, four fingerprints, as well as the date and place of entry or exit. In cases where access is denied, this information will also be logged.
Once fully operational on April 10, 2026, the EES will completely replace manual passport stamping, enabling authorities to detect more effectively those who overstay the maximum authorised period in Schengen: 90 days within 180 days.
A safe and efficient system
The EES is part of the EU’s broader Security and Migration agenda and was approved in 2017, following the European Commission’s “Smart Borders” proposal in 2016.
The system aims to enhance security and streamline travel by:
- Identifying false identities or fraudulent passports.
- Detecting overstays beyond authorised periods.
- Providing authorities with reliable, real-time data.
Although it involves the collection of biometric data, the system fully complies with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Safeguards have been established to protect travellers’ privacy, ensuring that personal data is stored only for as long as necessary and exclusively for its intended purpose.
According to the European Commission, the EES represents a technological leap in border management, offering safer, smoother, and more efficient travel, with automated checks always supervised by border officers.