Goodbye passport stamps: the European Union introduces the EES digital system.

From October 12th, border controls for non-EU citizens will change. Biometric surveys and electronic recordings are expected: the aim is to improve security and monitor migratory flows

The European Union is preparing to revolutionize its border control system. The Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into force on Sunday 12 October 2025., the new digital system that will replace the traditional passport stamps with a electronic register of movements of citizens from non-EU countries, including the United Kingdom.

The system will be gradually introduced in all Schengen countries and will affect the travellers entering or leaving the Union for short stays, up to 90 days every 180.
In Italy, the experimentation will start from airports of Milano Linate, Malpensa, and Rome Fiumicino, followed by the ports of Civitavecchia and Genoa, before its full nationwide rollout.

From October 20, biometric checks, which will include fingerprint and face scan, will initially concern approximately 10% of passengers, then to extend progressively until covered all travelers by April 2026.

The new system will be managed by the Border Police and coordinated by eu-LISA central database, Based in Tallinn (Estonia), which will collect data from 25 Schengen countries and the four associated states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
They remain excluded Ireland and Cyprus, which are not members of the Schengen area.

During the check, travellers will have to scan your passport, provide fingerprints and a photographyIn some airports it will be possible to complete the procedure via self-service kiosks or dedicated apps, while children under 12 will be exempt from fingerprinting.
Who owns a electronic passport will be able to use the automatic gates, marked by the golden camera symbol.

What does the new system entail?

The introduction of the EES represents a turning point for the management of migration flows and European security.
The system will allow you to digitally track every entry and exit of non-EU citizens, preventing overstaying and combating irregular immigration.

The biometric and personal data will be stored for three years after each trip and automatically compared at subsequent checks, making entry procedures faster.
According to the European Commission, The EES will help reduce visa fraud and simplify controls for frequent travelers, although, in the first few weeks, Longer waiting times are expected at major airports.

The new system is part of a broader European strategy for the digitalisation of borders.
By the 2026 Furthermore, the launch of theethias, the electronic travel authorization system, which will require a pre-registration online for non-EU citizens already exempt from visas.
The authorization will cost 20 €, validity of three years or until the passport expires, with exemption for minors and over 70s.

With the EES and the Etias, The European Union aims to modernise controls, ensuring a greater internal security and transparent monitoring of flows at the borders.