EU launches new biometric border checks for all third-country visitors
Photo: EU rolls out new border control system (Getty Images)
From October 12, the European Union will begin implementing a new biometric border control system. It will replace traditional passport stamps and record entry and exit data for third-country nationals, including Ukrainians, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports.
Border officials noted that citizens and international transport operators should pay attention to the launch of the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) at the external borders of the EU and Schengen countries.
The system is scheduled for a phased rollout starting October 12, 2025, at border checkpoints with EU member states, including:
- Poland;
- Slovakia;
- Hungary;
- Romania.
The EES will apply to all third-country nationals, including Ukrainians, who cross the external borders of the Schengen area for short-term stays — up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The system is an automated, centralized database designed to electronically track border crossings without stamping passports.
How border checks will work
During the first entry into the Schengen area after the EES launch, individuals will undergo extended registration, which includes the collection of biometric data such as
- Facial images;
- Four fingerprints.
For subsequent border crossings, the process will be simplified and faster, as biometric data will be checked against existing digital records. The system will automatically record the date, time, and location of each entry and exit.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine urged Ukrainian citizens planning trips to EU countries to take these changes into account.
"From our side, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is coordinating with the border authorities of neighboring countries and is prepared for possible minor adjustments in border traffic," the agency added.
Recently, Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, explained whether the new biometric system will increase wait times at the border.
