04.11.2025 • Whitepaper

What Is the Entry/Exit System?

The European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), launching progressively from October 12, 2025, marks a major shift in how non-EU nationals are tracked at the borders of 29 European countries. For the GIT SECURITY community, this system is a convergence point of physical security, cybersecurity, identity management, and public trust. It’s a case study in how large-scale surveillance and data systems are reshaping the balance between freedom of movement and the need for secure borders.

Driven by rising migration, security threats, and the need for efficient border control, the EU’s Entry/Exit System reflects years of political negotiation and technological investment. It emerged from the Smart Borders initiative, aiming to modernize Schengen Area management while balancing civil liberties and data protection. The system responds to public demand for transparency, faster processing, and stronger oversight of overstays and identity fraud.

With implementation approaching, the system is quietly becoming a cornerstone of Europe’s border strategy. Understanding how it works and what it means for security, privacy, and mobility is increasingly relevant.

content:

What Is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
1. Biometric Data Protection
2. Border Surveillance and Identity Management
3. Automation and Throughput
4. Cybersecurity and System Resilience
Voices of Mistrust
Strategic Implications
Conclusion

What Is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a large-scale, automated IT infrastructure developed by the European Union to digitally register the border crossings of third-country nationals entering or leaving the Schengen Area. Replacing the traditional practice of manually stamping passports, the EES captures and stores both biographic and biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints, alongside travel details such as the date, time, and location of entry or exit.

Designed to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of border management, the system applies to all non-EU travelers who are either visa-exempt or hold short-stay visas. Each individual’s data is retained for up to three years (or five years in specific cases), enabling authorities to detect overstays, identify repeat entries, and flag potential security risks in real time.

The EES is operated by eu-LISA, the EU agency responsible for managing large-scale IT systems in the areas of freedom, security, and justice. It is intended to function as a cornerstone of the EU’s integrated border management strategy, interfacing with other systems such as the Visa Information System (VIS), the Schengen Information System (SIS), and the forthcoming European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). Together, these platforms form a cohesive digital ecosystem aimed at strengthening both security and mobility across Europe’s external borders.