Overview

• The European Commission confirmed on July 30 that the Entry/Exit System will go live on October 12 with half of external border crossings active within three months and full deployment by April 2026.
• The automated system will record names, passport numbers, fingerprints and facial images of all non-EU nationals arriving in and departing from 29 participating Schengen and associated countries.
• EU commissioner Magnus Brunner said the biometric checks will bolster security by identifying overstayers, preventing irregular movements and reducing document and identity fraud.
• Britain’s Foreign Office and transport operators have warned of potential delays, advising travellers to prepare for a few extra minutes at checkpoints and highlighting risks of congestion at hubs like London’s St Pancras.
• All EU members except Cyprus and Ireland, together with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, will implement the new automated entry system.