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The EU’s Entry/Exit System: what changes at the Schengen border
Passport stamps are giving way to a digital record of your fingerprints and photo when you enter or leave the Schengen area. Here is what that means for Indian travellers.
Visabnb team
The European Union’s Entry/Exit System, known as EES, records non-EU nationals who come to Europe for a short stay. It started operating on 12 October 2025, and the European Commission said it would be fully operational from 10 April 2026.
What happens at the border
When you cross an external Schengen border, your face is photographed and your fingerprints are taken, along with the details in your passport. Your entry and exit are recorded digitally, in place of the stamp an officer used to put in your passport.
Does it apply to Indian passport holders?
Yes. The Commission’s own guidance uses India as its example: a citizen of India travelling for a short stay needs a visa, and their details are recorded in EES when they arrive at the border.
EES does not replace the Schengen visa. You still apply for the visa before you travel, as before.
What to do
- Apply for your Schengen visa as usual; nothing about the application changes because of EES.
- On a first trip under the new system, allow for the time the border check takes.
Visa pages for these countries
Official sources
- The Entry/Exit System will become fully operational on 10 April 2026 — European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs
- EES vs ETIAS: main differences to know for travellers — European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs