Brussels, (Unib Rashid) – The European Union has fully activated a new Entry/Exit System (EES) across all Schengen countries for non-European travelers. Replacing the traditional passport stamping method, the system now digitally records the entry and exit of non-EU citizens traveling for short stays.

According to the European Commission, the system, which began operations on March 10, marks a significant milestone in strengthening European border security. The EES is now fully operational across all Schengen member states.

The Commission stated that EES is an advanced technological system that digitally records the entries and exits of non-EU travelers across 29 European countries for short-term stays. It collects biographical and biometric data along with other travel information. The system also provides reliable data on border crossings, helping detect cases of overstaying, document fraud, and identity fraud in a systematic manner.

The rollout of the system began progressively in October 2025. Since its introduction, more than 52 million entries and exits have been recorded. As a result, over 27,000 travelers have been denied entry, including approximately 700 individuals identified as security threats to the Union.

Despite operating at full capacity, the system takes an average of just 70 seconds to register a traveler, which is considered highly efficient given the added value for non-EU citizens entering the EU. The system is now active at all external border crossing points of the European Union.