Qatar Airways has urged its passengers traveling to European Union countries to pay attention to the new changes that will apply to entry and exit procedures in the Schengen area, as the Entry/Exit System (EES) begins to be rolled out gradually from October 12, 2025.
The airline explained that the new system will apply to nationals of non-Schengen countries when crossing the external borders of the 29 European countries covered by the system, as the traveler's personal data, travel document information and biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images, as well as the date and place of entry and exit, will be recorded in a secure electronic register that respects data protection standards and travelers' rights, according to a post on the Qatar Airways website and the official website of the European Union.
The EES aims to replace the traditional manual passport stamping mechanism with an integrated digital system that allows the length of stay to be tracked accurately and helps detect overstays and prevent irregular migration, in addition to enhancing security, protecting identities and facilitating border crossing procedures. Every refusal of entry issued to non-European travelers will also be recorded in the system.
The system will be applied gradually or fully across the external borders of the countries concerned over a period extending until April 2026, permanently replacing the manual stamping process from April 10, 2026. The system is expected to help speed up border crossing procedures by enabling wider use of automated control and self-service systems, making the travel experience easier and more comfortable for travelers.
The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) oversees the development and management of the new system, which comes within the framework of the European "Security Union" and contributes to the objectives of the "European Agenda on Security" and the "European Agenda on Migration," particularly with regard to border management and combating cross-border crime and terrorism.
It is worth noting that the European Commission proposed the system in April 2016 as part of the "Smart Borders" package, and the regulation governing it was adopted in November 2017. In July 2025, the European Parliament and the Council also adopted a regulation allowing the system to be introduced gradually, and the Commission set October 12, 2025, as the official start date for its operation.
To view the post on the Qatar Airways website, click here.
