EU's new digital Border Checks for non-EU travellers, including Indians launched

On Sunday, travellers heading to Europe, including Indian citizens, will be subject to new biometric border checks as the European Union begins the phased rollout of its Entry/Exit System (EES). The new digital border regime is designed to modernise EU border security and track movements of non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area.

The EES will require non-EU travellers to register at the border by scanning their passport, providing fingerprints, and having a facial photograph taken. These checks

will replace the traditional practice of manually stamping passports and will apply to entries into Schengen countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Ireland and Cyprus are exempt from the scheme.

The system will also affect those departing the UK through key travel points such as the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone, and Eurostar services at St Pancras International in London. Travellers will need to complete the registration at the border before leaving the UK.

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“We must do everything we can to prevent terrorists and irregular migrants from entering the Schengen Area illegally,” said Rasmus Stoklund, the EU’s Minister for Immigration and Integration, Reuters reported.

“It is crucial that we maintain effective control over third-country nationals entering the Schengen Area, so that we can strengthen security at the external borders. With an EU-wide IT system, it will become easier to monitor who is crossing our borders,” he added.

Travellers are not required to take any action before their journey, as registration is carried out upon arrival. While the process is free of charge, it is expected to increase the time spent at border checkpoints.

“We recognise that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible,” said Alex Norris, the UK’s Minister for Border Security and Asylum.

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“The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration,” he said.

Under the system, British passport-holders and other non-EU nationals will be required to register during their first entry into any EES-operating country. Their registration will remain valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

The new scheme is being implemented gradually over a six-month period, meaning that different entry points across Europe may have varying procedures during the transition. The EES is expected to become fully operational by 10 April 2026.

“Our priority is to minimise disruption for travellers and hauliers, particularly at our busiest border crossings. We’ll continue working closely with European partners and local resilience forums to keep traffic flowing and journeys smooth,” said Keir Mather, UK Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation.

According to the EU, the EES is part of a broader effort to digitise border control, reduce identity fraud, and ensure better compliance with visa regulations.

“The EES will also help to significantly reduce identity fraud,” an official EU statement said.

Children under the age of 12 will not be required to provide fingerprints, although all travellers, including infants, will have their photograph taken and stored digitally.

Meanwhile, the UK government has introduced its own Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. The ETA is a digital travel permit required for visitors who do not need a visa for short stays in the UK or do not hold another valid UK immigration status prior to travel.

As both the EU and UK move towards high-tech border controls, travellers are advised to stay informed about changing requirements to avoid disruptions.