How will the new rules at the borders affect your travel to Europe?

From October 12, 2025, a new entry and exit control system called EES (Entry/Exit System) will be implemented at the borders of the Schengen Area countries within the EU. This means that the way in which travelers from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Great Britain, America, Canada and other, enter and exit Europe is changing - it is digitalizing. The system applies to all countries that do not require a visa for the EU. The system applies to all countries that do not require a visa for the EU. The aim of the new system is to increase security, reduce the number of illegal stays, and speed up border crossings. However, in practice, especially in the summer season, longer waiting times should be expected in the beginning.

So, what exactly is the EES?

Simply put, the EES is an electronic system that replaces passport stamping. When you cross the border, the customs officer will no longer stamp your passport, but the system will automatically register you using your passport and biometric data (fingerprints and facial scan). All of this will be free of charge and will take place directly at the border, using special machines similar to those used at airports in the EU.

What does this mean for you?

• No need to do anything in advance. Registration is done at the border automatically.
  
• No fees to be paid. The system is completely free.
  
• Passports will no longer be stamped. Everything will be digital.
  
• If you travel frequently, each entry and exit will be electronically recorded.
  
• If you stay longer than permitted, the system will automatically report it.
  

So, if you often travel from Serbia to Greece, Germany, or Austria – from October 2025, your travel experience will remain the same, but the border will be a bit “smarter” and stricter.

What will crossing the border with EES look like?

Self-service kiosks will be set up at border crossings.
At these kiosks, you will:

1. Scan your passport,
   
2. Provide a fingerprint,
   
3. Turn towards the face scanning camera.
   

Then, you will proceed to the border police officer who will already see all your data in the system and decide on your entry. The whole process should only take a few minutes, but in the initial months, delays and longer waiting times are expected as all passengers will need to go through the initial registration.

What is recorded and for how long is it kept?

The system will record:

• when you entered the Schengen Area country,
  
• when you exited,
  
• the total duration of your stay.
  

The data (including biometrics) will be kept for three years, and based on this information, the system will accurately determine if someone has exceeded the allowed 90 days of stay within a period of 180 days.

Who is not subject to the EES?

This system does not apply to everyone.
The EES does not apply to:

• citizens of EU countries, Schengen Area countries, Cyprus, and Ireland,
  
• those who have a residence permit in any European country,
  
• family members of EU citizens,
  
• citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican,
  
• diplomats and heads of state,
  
• cross-border workers and individuals who frequently cross the border for work,
  
• researchers, students, volunteers, and au pair programs participants,
  
• soldiers, members of rescue missions, or others exempt from control.
  

Why is the EES being introduced?

The European Union is introducing this system for several reasons:

• to modernize border control and reduce queues,
  
• to prevent visa and passport abuse,
  
• to increase security,
  
• to accurately track the duration of stay for third-country passengers,
  
• and to facilitate travel for those who follow the rules.
  

In other words, the EES will help in detecting:

• individuals who stay longer than permitted,
  
• those using false identities,
  
• and potentially – individuals involved in criminal activities.
  

What does this mean for tourists and travelers?

If you are traveling to Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, or any other Schengen country – all you need to know is:

• No pre-registration required.
  
• Everything happens automatically at the border.
  
• The process is free of charge.
  
• First entry may have longer waiting times.
  
• Subsequent crossings will be faster.
  

EES is part of a broader EU plan, and after it (by the end of 2026), the implementation of the ETIAS system will begin, which will require most travelers from Serbia and the region to have an electronic travel authorization for the EU.

Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the new control system at border crossings

If I am married to a citizen of a Schengen country, does this control apply to me?

Answer: It depends on your status and where your spouse resides.

• If your spouse lives in a Schengen country and you have a family member residence card under Directive 2004/38/EC, you are not subject to EES registration.
  
• If your spouse lives in their home country (e.g., Norway), and you come from a third country without a residence permit, you will be registered in the EES system as a passenger from a third country.
  

Source: European Commission – To whom does the EES not apply

Do children also have to register in the EES system?

Registration in the EES system is mandatory for all ages. Children under the age of 12 will not give their fingerprints, but they will have to stand in front of the machine to have their face photographed (scanned). https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees/faq#which-biometric-identifiers-will-ees-store

I want to go to the seaside in Greece, but I have spent 85 days in EU countries, can I enter Greece?

Answer: Yes, you can enter. The EES monitors a maximum of 90 days of stay within a period of 180 days. If you have used up 85 days, entry is possible, but be careful not to exceed a total of 90 days while in the Schengen zone.

Source: European Commission – EES: What is the EES

If I have spent all 90 days in the EU and want to re-enter, will I be turned away?

Answer: Yes. If you have used all 90 days in the Schengen zone within a 180-day period, you will be denied entry at the border. Information about the entry denial will be recorded in the EES or, if you are not registered in the EES, you will receive a canceled entry stamp in your passport.

Source: European Commission – EES FAQ

If I have stayed longer in a Schengen country, for example, Greece, do I have to go through this system or can I request to see a border officer?

Answer: If you have exceeded your stay, you will be registered in the EES system and a return procedure under Directive ²⁰⁰⁸⁄₁₁₅ may be initiated.

• Preference is given to voluntary departure.
  
• In certain cases, an entry ban (up to 5 years) may be issued, and the data will be entered into the SIS system.
  
• In any case, you must go through border control and cannot request to skip the EES registration.
  

Source: European Commission – EES FAQ

If I am a student in the EU — am I also subject to checks?

If you have a residence permit, or a visa for residence on the basis of studies, issued by an EU member state (e.g. you are studying in France, Germany, Italy, etc.), you are not subject to EES registration.
If you are only in the EU temporarily, without a residence permit, then you are entering as a traveler from a third country and will be registered in the EES system.

How will this control system affect those of us crossing the border with our pets?

Existing veterinary rules for pets will remain in effect and will not change, while their owners will have to register in the EES system.

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Read more about the EES system and the ETIAS system, which is under preparation and will begin implementation at the end of 2026, here: New Border Controls for Travelers from Outside the EU: Everything You Need to Know about the EES and ETIAS Systems.

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