From 12 October, the European Union (EU) will begin rolling out its new European Entry/Exit System (EES) for all non-EU nationals, including Australians, travelling in or out of the Schengen area. Full implementation is expected by 10 April 2026.
EES registration will replace manual passport stamping with digital registration of biometric data (fingerprints, photo) and responses to border questions. Initial registration may take a few minutes and could lead to longer border queues.
Once registered, repeat travellers within 3 years will only need to provide either a fingerprint or photo on entry and exit.
Important:
- Short stays for work and/or leisure are still limited to 90 days within any 180-day period.
- Overstaying may result in penalties.
- Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice — check with embassy or consulate before travel.
More info:
