EU to Launch New Border Control System: Entry/Exit System (EES) Starts on October 12, 2025

From October 12, 2025, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will officially be implemented at all external border crossing points of the European Union.
The system is designed to record entry, exit, and refusal-of-entry data for nationals of third countries (those who are not citizens of EU or Schengen member states).

The EES applies to all third-country nationals, regardless of whether they are required to obtain a visa to enter the Schengen Area.
In the case of the Republic of Moldova:

• Moldovan citizens traveling with a biometric passport of the Republic of Moldova will be subject to the new EES rules;
• Moldovan citizens who also hold citizenship of an EU or Schengen country and travel using that passport will not be affected by EES.

EES replaces manual passport stamping with a digital registration process and will create an individual electronic record for each traveler.
The procedures include:

• scanning the travel document;
• collecting biometric data (facial image and fingerprints);
• automatically calculating the permitted duration of stay in the Schengen Area.

👧 Children under 12 years old and persons physically unable to provide fingerprints are exempted from fingerprint collection.

The Moldovan Border Police recommend:

• reviewing the official EU guidelines on EES before travel;
• checking the validity of biometric passports;
• being prepared for possible delays at border crossings during the first weeks of implementation.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research:

“The launch of the EES marks a major step in Europe’s digital border management, directly affecting the mobility of citizens from Moldova, Ukraine, and the Balkan region.
For the Danube border regions, this means the need for enhanced cooperation between border authorities, public awareness campaigns, and synchronization of data systems.
Proper implementation will strengthen security, transparency, and predictability of movement across borders without creating new barriers for lawful travelers.”

Context:
The EES is part of the EU’s “Smart Borders” strategy, aiming to digitalize border management and replace passport stamping with electronic records. It will apply at all air, sea, and land borders of the EU, and will be managed by eu-LISA, the EU agency responsible for large-scale IT systems in the field of freedom, security, and justice.