The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is entering into full operation across Schengen external borders, marking a new phase in its rollout.
Following a gradual deployment since October 2025, EES is now being applied more broadly at external borders. In practice, this means non-EU, short-stay travellers and professional drivers without a residence permit or long-stay visa are subject to registration and biometric checks, replacing passport stamping with digital entry and exit records.
However, implementation remains uneven. Several Member States have indicated delays in deploying full biometric functionalities, pointing to a staggered and evolving application on the ground.
IRU has been closely monitoring the rollout and will continue to assess how implementation develops in practice, with particular attention to any emerging delays at border crossings or operational disruptions for operators.
IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian said, “This new phase of deployment is an important opportunity to ensure the system delivers in practice.
“The focus now should be on smooth, coordinated implementation that supports both border management objectives and efficient transport operations.
“With a pragmatic approach, disruption can be avoided. Where control and processing capacity is insufficient, the system could create spillover effects, including additional waiting times and knock-on impacts for both third-country nationals and EU travellers.
“The objective must be to ensure that the system works in a practical and proportionate way for all stakeholders.”
For operators, particularly in passenger transport, the system introduces additional procedures at border crossings. Depending on the infrastructure in place, drivers and passengers may be required to leave the vehicle to complete registration and checks.
For example, at the Dover coach passenger processing point, separate areas are in place for passengers who need to provide biometrics and those who do not.
Passenger transport operators are also required to verify travellers’ compliance with entry conditions prior to departure, adding an additional operational step before boarding. These requirements may be particularly challenging for a sector largely composed of small and medium-sized enterprises with limited administrative capacity.
Preparedness varies significantly across Member States. While some countries have already gained experience during the rollout phase, others are still adapting their infrastructure and procedures, making this phase a key test of the system’s resilience under real operating conditions.
IRU will continue to monitor implementation closely, gather feedback from operators, and engage with EU institutions and national authorities to ensure that EES is applied in a pragmatic and operationally workable manner.