The new European border crossing system


Postponed several times, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will enter into force on 12 October 2025. It will be rolled out gradually, with concrete impacts at Geneva Airport where several registration kiosks have been installed.

The EES (Entry/Exit System) is an automated IT system designed to register third-country nationals traveling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of the European countries that use this system:


In the EES system, a “third-country national” refers to a traveler who does not hold the nationality of any EU country, nor that of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

A “short stay” corresponds to a maximum duration of 90 days within any 180-day period. This is considered a single timeframe including the length of stays in all European countries using the EES.


Which countries’ nationals must be registered in the EES?
 

The system concerns you if you are a third-country national and you:

  • must hold a short-stay visa to travel to the European countries using the EES;

    or

  • do not need a visa to travel for a short stay to the European countries using the EES.

Your entries and exits, or refusals of entry, will be recorded electronically in the EES.

There are exemptions from registration in the EES, notably for nationals of Ireland and Cyprus:

EES - Who is exempt from the ESS?
 

What are the benefits of the EES?
  1. Making border checks more modern and efficient: The EES will gradually replace passport stamps with a digital system recording travelers’ entries and exits, speeding up border checks and enabling staff to work more efficiently.
  2. Facilitating and speeding up border crossings: Thanks to the EES, travelers will spend less time at the border due to faster checks, a self-service system, and the possibility of submitting their information in advance.
  3. Preventing irregular immigration: The EES will track people entering and leaving the Schengen area, using fingerprints and facial data to prevent overstaying, identity fraud, or misuse of visa exemption.
  4. Strengthening security in the Schengen area: The EES will give border guards and law enforcement access to important traveler information, helping them detect security risks and support the fight against serious crime and terrorism.

How will it work at the airport?


Upon arrival at Geneva Airport from a non-Schengen country, third-country nationals will first have to register individually at self-service kiosks, as is already the case in countries such as Canada or the United States.

Travel assistants will be nearby to help and inform passengers in this process.

The passenger will then need to go to a border control officer to record their biometric data (notably fingerprints and photograph). This electronic registration replaces the manual stamping of the travel document.

The passenger’s data will be stored for three years, so that upon a future entry into the Schengen area, they will not need to register again as their data will already be in the database. However, they must still present their passport to an immigration officer.

 

What data is collected by the EES?
  • The personal data on the travel document (full name, date of birth, nationality)
  • The date and place of each entry and exit in the 29 European countries using the EES
  • Biometric data such as facial image and/or fingerprints
  • Information on refusals of entry, if applicable
 
For more information and other questions: