New rules for entry into EU countries approved, here's when implementation begins

The European Union has announced that starting from October 12, 2025, it will begin the gradual implementation of a new system for controlling the entry and exit of non-EU citizens. This system, called the “Entry/Exit System” (EES), will replace the traditional stamping of passports with the digital recording of biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images, writes A2 CNN.

The implementation of this system comes ahead of the mid-season school holidays and will directly affect all tourists or business travelers who are not citizens of the European Union, including Albanian citizens.

From 12 October, Member States will gradually start implementing the EES system over a six-month period. Border authorities will start recording the data of third-country nationals crossing the borders. By the end of this period, the system will be fully operational at all border crossing points.

European Commission

This system is part of the EU's new strategy for creating "smart borders" that aims to speed up entry procedures for regular travelers and at the same time strengthen measures against illegal immigration, writes A2 CNN. Preparations have already begun at some border points. On their first trip, passengers will be verified either through fingerprints or through a facial image, not both at the same time. After the first registration, they will no longer need to have their passports stamped upon entry or exit.

This system will allow authorities to immediately see if a traveler has overstayed their permitted stay in one of the 29 European countries, including those that are part of the Schengen area but not EU members.

"It is an advanced technological system that will digitally record the entries and exits of non-EU citizens for short-term stays, replacing the manual stamping of passports. Biometric data such as fingerprints and facial image, as well as other travel data, will be collected," the European Commission said.

However, the implementation of a digital application intended to facilitate the procedure has been delayed, as each member state is working to integrate the EES system into its national immigration framework. The full implementation of the EES system is expected to be completed within six months of the launch date on 12 October 2025. (A2 Televizion)