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EU Entry/Exit System to be rolled out over six months

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Passport stamping to be replaced by digital records

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EU seeks tighter border controls amid immigration

pressures

BRUSSELS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - European Union member

countries began rolling out a new entry and exit system on

Sunday at the bloc's external borders, electronically

registering non-EU nationals' data.

The Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated system that

requires travellers to register at the border by scanning their

passport and having their fingerprints and photograph taken,

will be introduced over six months.

The move is aimed at detecting overstayers, tackling

identity fraud and preventing illegal migration amid political

pressure in some EU countries to take a tougher stance.

"The Entry/Exit System is the digital backbone of our new

common European migration and asylum framework," European

Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said

in a statement.

SIX MONTHS TO ADJUST

Non-EU citizens will have to register their personal details

when they first enter the Schengen area - all EU member

countries apart from Ireland and Cyprus, but including Iceland,

Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Subsequent journeys will

only require facial biometric verification.

The system should be fully operational, with passport

stamping replaced with electronic records, on April 10, 2026.

"Every third country national who arrives at an external

border will undergo identity verification, security screening,

and registration in the EU databases," Brunner said, adding that

"the six-month rollout gives member states, travellers, and

businesses time to transition smoothly to the new procedures".

For British travellers using the Port of Dover, the

Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone or Eurostar terminal at

London's St Pancras International, the process will take place

at the border before they leave the UK.

At Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal, only freight and coach

traffic will be subject to EES checks from Sunday.

Passenger vehicle checks will follow in November at Dover

and by the end of the year at Eurotunnel, while the Eurostar at

St Pancras will gradually introduce the new process starting

with some business travellers from Sunday.

"We recognise that EES checks will be a significant change

for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with

our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as

possible," British Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex

Norris said.

"The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our

borders and these modernisation measures will help us protect

our citizens and prevent illegal migration," Norris said.