EU switches to biometric borders
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System went live across 29 countries, replacing passport stamps with biometric tracking like fingerprints and facial recognition at external Schengen borders. (travelandtourworld.com) The rollout began April 10 but some airports and Channel ports reported disruptions and uneven readiness during the initial days. (thelocal.de)
Europe’s new Entry/Exit System is now fully live at the external borders of 29 Schengen countries, replacing passport stamps for short-stay non-European Union travellers. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu) The system records a traveller’s name, passport details, fingerprints, facial image, and the date and place of each entry or exit. The European Commission said full operation began on April 10, 2026, after a phased rollout that started on October 12, 2025. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu) The rules apply to non-European Union nationals visiting for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Cyprus and Ireland are outside the rollout, and European Union citizens, residents with permits, and some transport crews are exempt. (commission.europa.eu) (euronews.com) The change turns a paper stamp into a shared digital border record. The European Commission says the database is meant to spot people who overstay, detect false identities, and log refusals of entry across the Schengen area. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu 1) (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu 2) European Union officials say the system was already producing results before full deployment. By March 30, the Commission said it had logged more than 45 million border crossings, refused entry to more than 24,000 people, and identified more than 600 people as security risks. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu) eu-LISA, the European Union agency that runs large border and justice databases, said April 10 completed a 180-day implementation phase linking the central system with national border systems. It also said new carrier checks now apply to air, sea, and international coach operators carrying some visa holders into the Schengen area. (eulisa.europa.eu) The first days were uneven on the ground. The Local reported on April 11 that some airports saw disruption, while Channel crossing points including Dover, Folkestone, and St Pancras were still not equipped for a full rollout. (thelocal.dk) Airports Council International told The Local that some airports were seeing border-control waits of two to three hours during peak periods. The group said some passengers missed flights as border officers relied on partial suspension measures that skipped some biometric collection to keep lines moving. (thelocal.dk) The Commission says later crossings should be quicker because travellers who have already enrolled will usually need only a verification check rather than a full first-time registration. For now, the European Union’s long-delayed “smart borders” project has moved from pilot phase to everyday border control. (commission.europa.eu) (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu)
