Overview

• Pilot operations begin on October 12 at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino as Italy tests the EU Entry/Exit System that replaces manual passport stamps.
• From October 20, roughly 10% of travellers at external borders will undergo biometric checks, expanding progressively to all travellers by April 2026 under Regulation (EU) 2025/1534.
• Non‑EU travellers will scan their passport and provide fingerprints and a photo at arrival, minors under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting, and some locations will use self‑service kiosks and e‑gates.
• Officials expect longer waits during the initial phase, and no advance registration is required because the first enrollment occurs at the border point.
• Italy plans to extend testing to the ports of Civitavecchia and Genoa before nationwide deployment, as the EU touts EES to ease travel, detect overstays and curb irregular migration, with ETIAS following in 2026 at €20 and free for under‑18s and over‑70s.