Tengrinews.kz - Starting October 12, new border-crossing rules for citizens of third countries came into effect in the Schengen Area. The first countries to fully implement the digital Entry/Exit System (EES) were Czechia, Estonia, and Luxembourg, according to Deutsche Welle (DW).

Germany has begun introducing the system at Düsseldorf Airport, with plans to expand it gradually to other airports, including Frankfurt am Main and Munich.

What has changed

Passport stamps are now being replaced with electronic records in a central database.

The new EES system records biometric data -- a photograph and fingerprints -- of all third-country nationals entering and leaving the Schengen Area.

Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprint collection.

Full implementation across all border checkpoints is expected by April 10, 2026.

Who is affected

The new rules apply to short-term visitors from third countries -- those staying up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Foreign residents and long-term visa holders in Schengen countries are not affected.

They will have separate lines, where they must present their visa or residence permit along with their passport.

How the new control works

Upon first entry:

Border officers will take a photo and fingerprints; Passport details will be entered into the EES system.

For subsequent trips, biometric data will be verified automatically, speeding up border checks.

Registration can be completed via EES terminals or automated border gates that support biometric passports.

Why the EES system was introduced

The goal of EES is to make border control faster and more efficient:

Repeat checks will take less time; The system will detect forged documents and overstayed visas; Schengen states will share data on all border crossings by foreign nationals.

If a traveler exceeds the 90-day stay limit, they will be denied entry, and the violation will be recorded in the system (or marked in the passport).

Transition period

During the first six months of implementation, border officers may continue stamping passports alongside electronic registration to help travelers and staff adjust.

Next step -- ETIAS

By late 2026, EES will be integrated with ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.

Citizens from visa-free countries will need to obtain prior travel authorization before entering the Schengen Area.

What travelers should know

In the first months, longer lines at border checkpoints are expected, especially at major airports.

Later, self-service terminals will allow travelers to upload their data in advance.

For Kazakh citizens, visa requirements remain unchanged -- EES does not replace the need for a Schengen visa.

However, the new system will automatically record any overstay, and even minor violations could result in fines or future visa denials.

Read more here about which countries have already launched the EES system.

Passport Germany Visa Europe Czech Republic Luxembourg Estonia

Schengen without stamps: first countries start new EU border rules