Saturday 11 / October / 2025
MUSCAT: Travellers from Oman and other non-European countries will face a significant change at Europe’s borders starting October 12.
The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into effect on Sunday, replacing traditional passport stamps with automated biometric registration across 29 EU countries. non-European travellers heading to Europe will experience a major change at the continent’s borders.
The move marks a major shift in how non-European visitors — from the Gulf, Asia, Africa, and the Americas — enter and leave the continent at airports, seaports, and land crossings.
Each traveller’s facial image, fingerprints, and passport details will now be recorded digitally upon arrival and departure from the Schengen Area, which includes most EU states as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Children under 12 will provide only a photograph.
The digital Entry/Exit System (EES) applies to all non-EU nationals travelling to all Schengen countries for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. EU citizens, residents, and holders of long-stay visas or residence permits are generally exempt.
Once registered, the system will automatically verify identity for future visits, reducing the need for repeated checks or manual stamping. Officials say the EES will speed up border procedures in the long term, while helping authorities detect overstays, identity fraud, and irregular migration.
The rollout will be gradual over six months, with full operation expected by April 10, 2026. During the initial phase, manual passport stamping may still appear at some border points, and longer processing times are possible as staff and travellers adjust.
What travellers should expect
All non-EU visitors — whether on short-term visas or travelling visa-free — will be affected. Biometric passport holders will experience faster processing, as their data can be scanned automatically. Travellers with non-biometric passports will still be admitted but may face longer wait times.
No prior registration is required. Data will be collected automatically at the first point of entry, creating a digital record of each trip. Authorities warn that overstaying the 90-day limit within any 180-day period will now be far easier to detect, potentially leading to future entry restrictions.
Airlines and travel operators across Europe have advised passengers to allow extra time for border checks, especially during the rollout. Governments are also preparing information campaigns at consulates, airports, and travel agencies to guide travellers through the new procedures.
The EES is the first stage of Europe’s digital border transformation. By late 2026, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will require travellers from visa-exempt countries, including Gulf nationals, to apply online for pre-travel authorisation, providing personal information and paying a small fee before entering the EU.
Together, EES and ETIAS will create a fully digital record of non-EU travel, replacing paper-based procedures and bringing Europe’s borders in line with global biometric standards.
For millions of visitors each year — tourists, students, and business travellers alike — the EES represents a significant shift. While the system promises faster, safer, and more efficient travel once fully operational, the first months may involve longer queues and adjustment.
Europe’s passport stamps may soon become a relic of the past, replaced by digital scans and biometric verification, signalling a new era in international travel.
