Starting October 12, 2025, the Entry/Exit System (EES) officially goes live across the European Union. This new digital system changes how people from non-EU countries enter and leave the Schengen Area — including the Czech Republic.
If you’re planning to travel here soon, here’s what the EES means for you, how it works, and what to expect at the airport.
What is the EES?
EES stands for Entry/Exit System. It’s an automated EU database that records when and where travelers from non-EU countries enter and leave the Schengen Area.
Until now, your passport was manually stamped at border control. From today, that process becomes digital — no more stamps, but your travel data will be stored electronically.
The system will record:
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the date, time, and place of entry and exit,
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your identity and passport information,
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and your biometric data (fingerprints and facial image).
This applies to all third-country nationals coming to the Schengen Area for a short stay — including travelers who don’t need a visa.
What will happen when you enter the Czech Republic?
If you’re coming to the Czech Republic or another Schengen country after October 12, you’ll be registered in the EES the first time you cross the border.
During this first registration:
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your fingerprints and facial photo will be taken,
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your details will be saved in the system for future crossings.
Because of the new biometric process, the first border check may take longer than usual — especially at busy airports.
How Prague Airport is prepared
At Václav Havel Airport Prague, travelers can use 56 self-service kiosks located before passport control.
These kiosks will help you pre-register faster, scan your passport, and prepare your data before meeting the border officer.
This will make the whole process smoother and reduce waiting times.
Why the EES is being introduced
Every year, millions of people from outside the EU cross into the Schengen Area. Until now, border checks relied on manual passport stamping — a slow and outdated method that couldn’t accurately track who was still in the EU after their permitted stay.
The new EES system will:
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make border checks faster and more secure,
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automatically calculate the length of your stay,
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and help authorities detect overstays or invalid entries more easily.
It will also support the EU’s efforts to fight illegal migration and serious crime.
What’s coming next? ETIAS in 2026
The ETIAS system (European Travel Information and Authorization System) will follow in late 2026.
While EES registers entries and exits, ETIAS will require citizens of visa-free countries (such as the U.S., Canada, or Japan) to apply online for travel authorization before coming to Europe — similar to the U.S. ESTA system.
So for now, you don’t need to apply online for anything — EES registration happens automatically at the border.
These 30 European countries require visa-free travelers to have an ETIAS travel authorization:
Nationals of any of the following visa-exempt countries and territories must apply for an ETIAS travel authorization:
In short
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EES starts on October 12, 2025, across the EU.
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It replaces passport stamps with a digital entry and exit record.
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Your biometric data will be taken the first time you enter.
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Expect a longer wait during your first registration.
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ETIAS, the online travel authorization, will come later — in 2026.
Our team at Foreigners is here to help you travel and relocate smoothly to the Czech Republic.
💬 Contact us at info@foreigners.cz or visit www.foreigners.cz.
Source: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees
Photo: Canva
