A New System Of Entry To Schengen Countries Will Be Launched At Border Crossings From October

• 2.08.2025, 12:42

Belarusians' passports will no longer be stamped.

More than once it has been written about the new order of entry into the Schengen zone within the Entry/Exit System EES, but its launch was endlessly postponed, writes the resource "Pack a backpack".

The latest press release of the European Commission assures that the new date is already final - from October 12 countries will begin to gradually implement EES at border crossings.

What is EES?

It is a new digitalized system for registering and letting foreign nationals into Schengen territory, which aims to:

"... prevent illegal migration and ensure the safety of European citizens [...] travel will become more convenient and safer for everyone."

How will it work and for whom?

EES will apply to all foreigners entering from outside Schengen for a short-term stay (i.e. with a maximum allowed period of up to 90 days in every 180): those entering on Schengen type C visas and those for whom visa-free travel to Schengen applies.

- when entering one of the Schengen countries for the first time, fingerprints and photos will be collected and the data will be stored in the system

- at subsequent entries, if there is a biometric passport and technical capability (special terminals) at a particular checkpoint, it will be possible to pass the control automatically

- with a regular passport - passport control through a window at the border guard, as it happens now

T.I.e. entry with ordinary passports and other types of documents will also be possible. It is NOT necessary to make a biometric one!

- It will be possible to register in EES in advance via a mobile application (if it will be available in the countries of entry and exit).

After the introduction of EES, passports will no longer be stamped

But not immediately. The system will be introduced in stages:

- from October 12, 2025

- countries will only start introducing the changes at their external borders, but not at all at once

- it will be absolutely normal and expected to have EES with fingerprints and photos, for example, at the airport, while entering/exiting "in the old way" through a land border crossing point of the same country

- so at the first stage entry and exit stamps will continue to be put as usual.

- from April 10, 2026

- it is expected that all countries will fully implement EES

- all entries and exits will be recorded only electronically, except for visits to Cyprus and Ireland.

- i.e. from that moment on there will be no more stamps when crossing the external borders of Schengen.

-for example, when entering from Belarus to Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and leaving. Or when arriving at any airport, entering by sea through a Schengen port from non-Schengen countries.

How will this affect travelers?

- Saving blank pages in the passport, especially for frequent travel

- For owners of "biometrics" - the prospects of quickly passport control

- Since stamps are sometimes still a significant factor (as travel history in general) in obtaining non-Schengen visas: for example, the U.S. visa. With the introduction of EES, part of the "visual" visa history in the passport will be absent.

- Absence of stamps is a two-way street: for some people will no longer be able to use stamps as proof of the intended use of the visa, and for some, on the contrary, the absence of these stamps will only benefit the next applications.

-But all information will be in the electronic system, and consular officers, if desired, will probably be able to easily study the history of travel when considering the documents for Schengen.

- Since. The EES system will:

- record entries and exits, as well as refusals of entry

- monitor compliance with the period of stay and identify violators (especially with overstay) - if a person exceeds the period of stay under the 90/180 rule, everything will be displayed in the system

- identify forged documents and additionally collect personal data.

Who will not be affected by the EES system?

- foreigners with long-term visas (i.e. national visa type D, e.g. Polish work visa), with residence permits in EU and Schengen countries and their close relatives

- citizens of EU and Schengen countries, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City and their close relatives.