EU Launches Biometric Registration for Non-EU Travelers

The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) officially commenced on April 10, 2026, at all external Schengen border crossing points, introducing mandatory biometric registration for non-EU travelers. The system has recorded over 145 million entries and exits since its launch, capturing travel document details, fingerprints, and facial images.

Citizens of EU member states and nationals from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, passport holders from four micro-states (Andorra, Monaco, Marino, and the Holy See) are not required to submit biometric data but must present an identity document or passport along with a long-stay visa or residence permit if applicable.

African nationals, including those from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, entering the Schengen area for short stays must register their biometric data, regardless of previous visits. The EES aims to enhance tracking of overstays and replace manual passport stamping at entry points.