What happened
The European Union has fully implemented the Entry/Exit System (EES) as of April 10, 2026. The system requires travelers from non-EU and non-Schengen countries (including Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland) to register facial images and fingerprints upon first entry. Subsequent entries can utilize self-service gates. Key changes include the elimination of physical passport stamps, with data stored electronically, and the ability for border offices to temporarily suspend EES processing during peak congestion. Full mandatory processing is expected by September 2026. Additionally, the ETIAS travel authorization program is anticipated to launch in late 2026, requiring a 20-euro fee for visa-exempt travelers