Europe has already tried to launch the Entry/exit system in 2024. However, some EU member states have stated that they are not technically and organisationally ready for such a rapid transition. Find out when the final launch of the system is planned to be postponed

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The European Union has set deadlines for the launch of a new digital border system, the Entry/exit system (EES), which is designed to record the entry and exit of travellers, including Ukrainian citizens. According to the sources of Eurointegration, the EU Council on Justice and Home Affairs plans to approve the relevant document on 5 March and submit it to the European Parliament for approval.

Key dates

According to European officials, the EES is expected to start operating in all EU countries in October 2025. A six-month transition period is envisaged, during which individual countries will be able to implement the system in stages. Finally, the EES is expected to become fully operational at the end of the first quarter of 2026, without exception.

Why was the deadline postponed?

The Entry/exit system was originally supposed to be launched in early November 2024. However, some EU member states stated that they were not technically and organisationally ready for such a rapid transition. As a result, the final launch was postponed to October 2025.

How will the system work?

The entry/exit system involves the collection of biometric data from all travellers crossing the external borders of the European Union. Within the first six months of its launch, each EU country has the right to partially implement the system:

▪️ collect biometrics only at certain border crossing points,

▪️ use the system during limited time periods when the flow of passengers is lower,

▪️ continue testing and adjusting processes until full readiness is achieved.

However, at the end of this six-month period, all EU states will be obliged to apply EES across the board, recording every entry and exit of travellers.

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How will this affect Ukrainians?

This system will affect Ukrainian citizens as well as all non-EU travellers crossing the Union’s external borders. With the introduction of the EES, border guards will automatically read and store fingerprints and other biometric data, which, according to European officials, should increase security and help control the length of stay of foreigners in the EU.

Do you have any questions about the rules for entering foreign countries?

If you need help preparing for emigration and collecting the necessary documents, you should contact a professional. Migration lawyers will help you avoid confusion about the rules.

After the ministers of the EU member states ‘agree on positions and approve the provisions on the entry-exit system in an open session on 5 March’, the document will be submitted to the European Parliament. According to unofficial information, the vote in the EP may take place in July 2025.

European diplomats believe that all EU states will support the launch of the EES, as ‘a consensus has been reached at the level of the EU Council’. At the same time, in the coming months, countries will be actively preparing for the new system – from technical re-equipment of border crossing points to staff training.

We remind you! Ukrainian drivers planning to travel to the European Union by car should take care of insurance in advance. A Green Card is one of the key documents that allows you to legally drive a vehicle abroad.

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