New rules for crossing borders with European Union countries will soon come into force: a system for automatically recording the entry and exit of foreigners is being launched.
The rules for crossing the border with the countries of the European Union will soon change.
We are talking about launching a new system that will automatically record the entry and exit of all foreigners into EU countries.
What key innovations in 2025 should Ukrainians know about? Find out in the material from TSN.ua.
Implementation of the EES system
The European Parliament has decided to introduce a new Entry and Exit System (EES), which will soon come into force at the EU's external borders.
The EES is a centralised system that records and stores data on the crossing of Schengen borders by third-country nationals.
The EES system is expected to completely change the procedure for recording border crossings of non-EU citizens.
The main objectives of the EES system are:
When will the new system be implemented?
The launch of EES is expected to take place this fall. It is also noted that the changes will take place in several stages – over 180 days.
The European Parliament notes that in the event of technical failures or excessive queues, the launch may be temporarily suspended. However, EU countries have the right to introduce the system at all points at once without a phased implementation.
After final approval by the EU Council, the relevant document will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and will only enter into force three days later.
Following the development of a pan-European implementation plan and Member States' proposals for adaptation plans, the European Commission will set a precise date for the start of the 180-day rollout period.
What will change when crossing the border
Once the EES system is fully implemented, travellers' passports will no longer be stamped.
Entry and exit data will be collected on a mandatory basis and will be stored in an electronic database for three years.
If you are crossing the border for the first time after the new system is launched, your fingerprints will be taken and a photo of your face will be taken. This data will then be used for further identification.
If a citizen refuses to provide his data, he will not be allowed to cross the border.
The Ukrainian government specifies that registration of these travelers will be carried out in self-service terminals. Consequently, at each subsequent border crossing, travelers will only need to scan their passport in the terminal.
The system will automatically track the days of your stay in the European Union; visa-free travelers are allowed to stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Let us recall that Ukraine cannot completely restrict citizens from traveling abroad. Such a decision could harm the work of volunteers and humanitarian organizations.
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