Overview

• Starting October 12, the system will capture fingerprints and facial images for non-EU travelers instead of traditional passport stamps.
• Member states have a six-month transition window ending April 10, 2026, with mandatory deployment at half of border crossings within the first three months.
• All Schengen countries except Ireland and Cyprus—alongside Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein—will adopt the new system.
• Real-time entry and exit records aim to curb irregular migration, detect overstayers and reduce document and identity fraud.
• EU authorities are launching traveler information campaigns at airports and land borders to prepare the public for the biometric controls.