What are the EES changes to travel to the Schengen area in 2025?

What are the EES changes to travel to the Schengen area in 2025? - Portugal Business News

Travel and Tourism News Europe - What are the EES changes to travel to the Schengen area in 2025? The European Entry/Exit System (EES) will be launched in October 2025 and the ETIAS in 2026, here is all you need to know about traveling to the Schengen area:

1 – What is the Schengen area?

The Schengen area was created on June 14th, 1985, when Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands met in the village of Schengen in Luxembourg to gradually abolish checks between the borders of Schengen countries through the signing of the Schengen Agreement to allow the free movement of people, goods and services.

Schengen symbolizes Freedom, as millions of Europeans from Schengen countries can move freely between borders to study, live and work. Citizens from the Schengen Zone do not need their passports to travel between Schengen states.   

2 – What countries are part of the Schengen area in 2025?

40 years since the creation of the Schengen area, on June 14th, 2025, the Schengen area includes 29 countries, including 25 EU countries and 4 non-EU countries, that represent 450 million people living in the Schengen area.

There are 25 EU countries that are part of the Schengen area in 2025 as well as 4 island dependencies, namely: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (including Madeira Island and the Azores), Romenia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands), and Sweden.

There are 4 non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen area in 2025, namely: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

3 - What are the changes to travel to the Schengen area in 2025?

Reducing barriers between the 29 Schengen countries means increased cooperation between member states to fight terrorism and other threats through the Schengen Information System (SIS) that allows authorities to share security alerts in real time.

The European Union is preparing to launch 2 new border management initiatives that will affect travel to Europe and to Schengen countries to strengthen security, namely:

1 – The Entry/Exit System (EES) – from October 2025 

2 - The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) – end of 2026

4 – What is the European Entry/Exit System (EES)?

The European Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new digital border system that will change requirements for traveling to the Schengen area.

The European Entry/Exit System (EES) is expected to start in October 2025.

EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU and will instead require travelers to register their biometric details, such as fingerprints or a photo, when they arrive at the Schengen area border.  ​

The EES digital record will be valid for 3 years and travelers that enter the Schengen area again during that period will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border on entry and exit.

5 – Who does not require an EES (European Entry/Exit System)?

The citizens who do not require an EES include:

-       A United Kingdom citizen who is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement as long as he holds the residence permit card  

-       A holder of a residence permit from one of the EES countries

-       Citizens of Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, the Vatican City State and Ireland

4 – What is the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System)?

30 European countries will require visa-exempt travelers to have an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) travel authorization, namely all Schengen countries + Cyprus. ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026.

5 – Who does not require an ETIAS?

The citizens who do not require an ETIAS include:

-       A United Kingdom citizen who is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement,

-       A holder of a residence permit from one of the ETIAS countries

-       Citizens of Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, the Vatican City State and Ireland