Overview

• The system activated on October 12 with a pilot at Madrid‑Barajas that registered 1,819 passengers under police supervision, kicking off a six‑month phased deployment to full operation by April 10, 2026.
• It replaces passport stamping for third‑country nationals on short stays, recording passport details, a facial image and fingerprints to detect overstays and curb identity and document fraud.
• Coverage spans 29 Schengen and associated countries, with airports implementing first, followed by land borders and then maritime ports; Ireland and Cyprus are not part of Schengen.
• Exemptions include EU citizens, holders of residence permits or long‑stay visas, specified official or transfer travel, and nationals of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican, while children under 12 provide only a photograph.
• Spain invested €83 million to adapt border posts, national police oversee on‑site operation, rights and data‑protection bodies continue to flag bias and accuracy risks, and the related ETIAS travel authorization is expected to follow in 2026.