The Launch of a New Digital Entry System for the European Union

SadaNews - The member states of the European Union began today, Sunday, to implement a new entry and exit system at the external borders of the bloc, where data from non-EU citizens will be registered electronically.

The entry and exit system will be applied over a period of 6 months, featuring an automated process requiring travelers to register at the border by scanning their passports and taking their fingerprints and photographs.

This step aims to detect illegal residents, combat identity fraud, and prevent illegal immigration, amid political pressure in some EU countries to adopt a stricter stance.

Magnus Bruner, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, stated that "the entry and exit system is the digital backbone of our new common European framework for migration and asylum."

Non-EU citizens will need to register their personal data when they first enter the Schengen Area, which includes all EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, which are outside the bloc.

Subsequent travels will only require facial recognition verification. The system is expected to be fully operational, replacing the electronic records with passport stamps, by April 10, 2026.

Bruner said, "Every citizen from a third country arriving at the external borders will undergo identity verification, security checks, and registration in EU databases," adding that "the commencement of the 6-month implementation provides member states, travelers, and businesses ample time to transition smoothly to the new procedures."