The new EU passport scanning process: what you need to know
As of 12 October 2025 the EU began rolling out a major upgrade to how non-EU/EEA travellers enter and exit the Schengen Area.
This article walks you through step-by-step how the process works, who it applies to, and what that means for you and your clients.
Who is affected?
The system applies to third-country nationals (i.e., travellers who are not citizens of the EU, EEA, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway) when they make a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) in the Schengen Area.
It does not apply to EU/EEA/Swiss citizens in the same way.
It is rolling out gradually, with full implementation expected by 10 April 2026.
What happens: step by step
Arrival at external border
At the first airport, land- or sea-border of the Schengen Area you arrive in (even if you’ll connect internally) you will begin the process.Document & biometric registration
Your biometric, machine-readable passport is scanned (or read via chip).
A facial image is captured.
Four fingerprints (typically four fingers, not thumbs) are taken unless you have a visa and your fingerprints were already captured via the visa process. Other data: name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, date and place of entry – all logged into the EES.
Verification by border officer
Once that data is captured (often via a self-service kiosk or dedicated station), you proceed to a border control officer who checks that everything is in order and gives clearance.Recording exit
When you leave the Schengen Area via an external border, the process is mirrored: your exit is logged against your entry, so the system tracks how long you stayed.Subsequent visits
On your next entries, if you already registered your biometrics, the process should be faster – the system matches your stored data (face/fingerprint) and you’re verified more quickly.
Why this change?
Replaces manual passport stamping with electronic registration, enabling better tracking of who enters/exits and how long they stay.
Enhances Europe’s border security, helps detect document fraud, overstays, and irregular migration.
Aims to streamline border crossings once fully implemented, although initial stages may take a little longer.
What travel industry and business travellers should keep in mind
Preparation: Make sure that your clients (or you) travel with a biometric (machine-readable) passport. Travellers without one may still be processed but potentially via manual counter and slower.
First time slower: On first entry into EES-enabled border you may experience slightly longer process (because of biometrics capture). Subsequent visits are intended to be faster.
Stay tracking: The system enforces the 90-days-in-180-days rule more effectively. Travel planners must ensure that clients don’t inadvertently overstay.
Advice for travel businesses: Educate travellers about this new process, set expectations for potential small delays at border for now, and emphasize the need to keep passports ready, biometrics capture may require removing passport from holder, following signage in airport etc.
Data/privacy awareness: While data protection is built into the system (i.e., retention limited, safeguards in place) it is still advisable for travellers to understand the process and what data is collected.
Roll-out variation: Because the system is being introduced gradually, not every border checkpoint will have full biometric capture at every moment. Some may still stamp passports during transition.
In conclusion
For travel agencies, charter operators, business-travellers and border-control planners, the new EES system marks a significant shift in how passport/entry checks are done in the Schengen Area. By understanding the process, biometric registration, swift verification, electronic exit logging, you can better advise clients, set travel expectations, and manage compliance.
In short: no more simple inked passport stamps (eventually) – welcome to a more digital border.