By October, implementation of new travel regulations in Schengen area begins

The European Union announced that the new border control system for citizens not from the European bloc, which will end setting seals on passports, will start implementing in October.

The so-called Access/Dalje System (EES) was initially set to go into effect last November, but was postponed in recent moments as some states were still unwilling to implement it.

The European Commission has set October 12th 2025 as the date for launching operations for the implementation of EES. From October 12th onward, the EES will gradually begin to apply to the external borders of 29 European states in six months. This gradual implementation will give authorities, passengers and the transport industry more time to adapt to new procedures, the EU said.

The system was created in November 2017, and implementation was postponed several times. The system is expected to be worth about 60 countries, including those in the Western Balkans, for their EU entry, as well as in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, which are part of the Schengen area, reports REL, broadcast Periscope.

The EES will register the date of the entrance and exit of visitors and will have data on the extended positions and rejected entrances.

According to the new system, travelers will be collected personal and biometric data, face photos and fingerprints.

The passports in all Western Balkan states are biometric; in their chips are stored fingerprints and photographs, and are fully harmonised with the conditions the European Union has asked for, so that Western Balkan countries can benefit the visa-free regime.

The implementation of this system has raised fears that there will be long lines and waitings for people traveling to Europe with trains, boats and planes.

In March, some member states agreed that implementation will take place through phases, due to begin on 12 October.

This will increase security... by helping us identify people who exceed their time of stay, prevent irregular movements, and reduce documents and identities”, said Magnus Brunner, commissioner for Migration.

The European Commission said that there will be information campaigns at airports and at border crossings across the EU before implementation of the system begins for travellers.

According to him, the six - month period, when the time has been set to adapt to this system, is sufficient time for member states, travelers, and businesses to adapt to the new system.

Under planned implementation in phases, EU member states must begin operating the system in half of the border points after three months and have it fully operational after six months.

“EES could take each traveler several extra minutes to complete, so prepare to wait longer than usual at the border once the” system starts, Britain's Foreign Ministry said in a travel update. /Periscope/