What Is Europe’s New Entry/Exit System And How Does It Work?
Here's what you should keep in mind
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, it’s a good idea to check out the rules around the Schengen’s new Entry-Exit system.
Starting April 10, 2026, the Schengen Area has completed the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES), replacing manual passport stamping for non-EU travellers (including Indians). Under this system, every time you enter or leave the region for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period), your movement is logged digitally.
What difference does it make for you? At your first point of entry, border officials collect biometric data (like facial image and fingerprints), along with your travel details. Passport stamps won’t be involved now. On subsequent trips, this data is simply verified, which is expected to make the process faster over time. The system also introduces automation, such as e-gates and self-service kiosks at some borders.
However, this does not change how Indian travellers apply for a Schengen visa. The visa process remains the same for you, just the formalities at the border are different.
Technological progress, you could say.
How Does The Entry-Exit System Change Anything?
The EES only makes the security process tighter. Since your travel data is stored digitally, any overstay or violation of your stay duration is easily recorded and flagged.
It also reduces the amount of time you have to spend with the formalities: after you provide biometrics on your first post-rollout trip, this data remains valid for three years, so next time onwards you can just skip that queue.
Who Is Exempt From EES Checks?
Not everyone entering the Schengen Area falls under the EES. Exemptions include:
Individuals holding residence permits or long-stay visas
People with residence cards linked to EU nationals
Diplomats and individuals with special border privileges
Certain categories such as intra-corporate transferees, researchers, students in long-term programmes, and cross-border workers
Transit passengers who do not formally enter the Schengen Area
For most Indian tourists and short-term travellers, however, the system is unavoidable.
The Ground Reality
All said and done, the ground reality has not quite lived up to the promise of “faster borders” yet.
Just days after implementation, major disruptions were reported. Passengers across Europe have reported hours-long queues due to the new checks. At Milan Linate airport on April 12, out of 156 easyJet passengers headed for Manchester, only 34 managed to board their flight, while 122 were left behind. Local news outlets also described passengers fainting or falling ill due to long wait times and crowded conditions. Online, many passengers have written how they have been asked to register from scratch for every trip (even while coming back or going to the same airports), causing additional delays.
Why Airport Delays Are Happening Across Europe
The confusion largely stems from how new and layered the system is.
EES is not a one-time registration. You put in your data once every three years, but you still have to log your entry and exit every single time you cross into or out of the Schengen Area. At the same time, (although it doesn’t apply to Indians) another system, ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), meant to make the process more seamless, is yet to be rolled out. ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation system, as in the system where the data for Visa-free travellers is actually stored. It’s similar to the US ESTA, and was initially expected to roll out alongside EES. However, it has now been delayed to October 2026, causing additional delays for non-visa travellers who need these ETIAS checks but can’t get them now.
EES vs ETIAS: What Difference Does It Make For Indian Travellers?
EES and ETIAS serve completely different purposes. The two systems are supposed to work together eventually. ETIAS screens travellers before departure, and EES tracks when they arrive and leave the border.
ETIAS only applies to travellers with a visa exemption. Since Indian passport holders already require a visa, ETIAS does not apply to them. Their interaction is strictly with EES at the border.
ETIAS is not expected to roll out any time before October 2026. And although it doesn't affect Indians, the delays it's causing to thousands of travellers worldwide are bound to have a ripple effect on you the next time you go to the airport. So be sure to keep a few additional hours in hand the next time you plan a European trip, lest the delays affect you too.