As of October 12, the European Union is launching a new biometric border control system (EES) at the external borders of EU and Schengen Zone countries. This new regulation will also impact citizens of Ukraine, as reminded by the State Border Guard Service.
Changes in Entry Rules to the EU
The new control system will be rolled out gradually. It will be operational at borders with EU member states - Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.
«The EES system will apply to all citizens of third countries (including Ukrainians) crossing the external borders of the Schengen Zone for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period)», stated the SBGS.
After the EES is launched, individuals will need to undergo enhanced registration during their first entry into the Schengen Zone, which will include collecting biometric data such as facial images and four fingerprints.
However, subsequent border crossings are expected to be faster as biometric data will be matched with existing digital information, and the system will automatically record the date, time, and place of entry/exit.
What is the EES System and How Does It Work?
Changes in border crossing rules for Ukrainians in 2025.
The EES entry and exit accounting system will be introduced not only in EU member countries but also in Schengen Agreement states like Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. However, Cyprus and Ireland, which are part of the EU, are exceptions and will not join the EES system.
This system will eliminate the need for traditional passport control with stamp approvals. Instead, the registration process for travelers will be automated through self-service terminals similar to those used in airports for boarding pass verification.
Travelers will scan their passports or other travel documents every time they cross the border, in either direction. The EES will record personal data, including biometric parameters, name, date, and place of border crossing. This means that only biometric documents will be used for border passage.
The facial scanning and fingerprinting procedure will be conducted once every three years. The collected data will be valid for multiple trips during this period and stored in an electronic database for three years after each journey.
