The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) replaces passport stamps with digital records, including fingerprints and facial scans for non-EU travelers. It starts in Italy in October 2025 at major airports and will expand nationwide by April 2026. If you’re visiting from the US, UK, or Canada, expect to register once every three years and prepare for some delays during the transition.
Starting October 12, 2025, Italy will begin rolling out the EU’s long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES). The new border control scheme replaces traditional passport stamps with digital records and biometric checks for non-EU travelers.
Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa will be the first airports to introduce EES on October 12, 2025. Palermo and Genoa follow on October 20, 2025, with all of Italy’s airports and ports expected to be covered by April 2026. The rollout is part of an EU-wide plan that will gradually extend to every Schengen border.
What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EES is a new EU system designed to modernize border checks. Instead of manual stamps, travelers from outside the EU and Schengen area will have their fingerprints and facial scan recorded on arrival. This information is stored for three years, so repeat visitors won’t need to re-register each time they travel.
Why it matters for you:
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Your days in the Schengen area will be tracked automatically, making it easier to enforce the 90-day rule.
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Border checks should become faster once the system is fully in place.
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Expect longer lines at first, as the technology is phased in.
EU and Schengen nationals, along with non-EU residents who live in these countries, are exempt from registering. However, they may still face delays during the transition while airports adapt to the new procedures.
How Italy Will Roll It Out
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October 12, 2025: Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa begin EES checks.
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October 20, 2025: Palermo and Genoa join the system.
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By April 2026: All Italian airports and ports will operate under EES.
Biometric kiosks will be installed in major airports, allowing travelers to register their data using a guided touchscreen process that takes only a few minutes. These kiosks also replace the manual questionnaires previously conducted by border agents.
What Travelers Should Know
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EES applies to non-EU/Schengen visitors, including those from the UK, US, and Canada.
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Data (facial scans, fingerprints, and travel records) is stored for three years.
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The system will only be used at Schengen external borders, so you’ll encounter it when flying into Italy from the US, but not when traveling between Italy and France for example.
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The EU is developing a Travel to Europe app for pre-registration to save time at the border, though it has not yet launched.
Looking Ahead
The EES rollout was delayed from its original November 2024 launch due to technical and infrastructure setbacks. The EU now requires at least one border point in each country to be operational by October 12, 2025, with full coverage by April 2026.
Once the system is running smoothly, the EU will introduce another layer: the European Travel Authorisation and Information System (ETIAS), a visa waiver scheme expected in late 2026.
Read more: What you need to know about ETIAS
FAQ: Entry/Exit System (EES)
Who needs to register?
Non-EU/Schengen travelers, including visitors from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and other third countries.
Who is exempt?
EU and Schengen nationals, plus non-EU residents living legally in these countries.
Will I have to register every time I travel?
No. Your biometric data is stored for three years, so you only register once during that period.
Will this affect travel within Europe?
No. EES only applies at external Schengen borders. You won’t use it when traveling between countries inside the Schengen area (for example, Italy to France).
Will there be delays?
Yes, at least in the early months. Longer lines are expected as airports adjust to the new system.
How does this relate to ETIAS?
EES is about border checks and tracking stays. ETIAS, coming in late 2026, will be a travel authorization (similar to the US ESTA) required before entering the Schengen area.
