Full switch due by April 10, 2026
The European Union has begun rolling out its new Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border-control system that records when non-EU visitors enter and leave the Schengen Area. The phased launch started in October 2025, with all participating borders due to use the system in full by April 10, 2026.
EES applies to non-EU nationals on short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). Instead of passport stamps, travelers will have an electronic record created at their first EES crossing, which captures passport details and biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) to speed future checks and enforce the 90/180-day rule.
The system will be introduced at external borders across the Schengen Area and associated countries (e.g., Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland). Implementation is gradual by country and by border point—airports, seaports, and land crossings—during the six-month transition period.
What Bermuda travelers should know
- If you’re a non-EU visitor heading to Europe for a short trip, expect initial enrolment the first time you hit an EES border after launch; later trips should be faster.
- Passport stamping will be replaced by digital entry/exit records once the rollout is complete by April 10, 2026.
- Check official guidance for country-specific exceptions and operational start dates at the border you’ll use.
Travelers should read the guidance carefully as some exceptions apply: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/
