[category]
[title]
Update Monday, April 6: While the Schengen zone's new border rules have been gradually rolling out since October 10, 2025, full implementation across all border crossings will take effect on Friday, April 10.
What is the EES?
From October 12, 2025, the new digital EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will register all non-EU nationals, including Australians, for short stays of 90 days or less when entering or leaving the Schengen area. The system aims to streamline border crossings and enhance security.
The EES will be gradually rolled out across European countries, with full implementation by April 10, 2026. It applies only at the external borders of the Schengen zone – AKA when travelling between a non-Schengen country and a Schengen country – and does not affect travel within the Schengen area.
Note: the EES is not a visa. If you needed a visa to travel to the EU before, you’ll still need to apply for one before arriving.
How does the EES work?
When you enter or leave a Schengen border, you must provide personal information at a kiosk or counter, including:
- Passport details
- Date and place of each entry and exit
- Facial image and fingerprints
- Whether you have been refused entry before
If you return to the Schengen area within three years of creating your digital record, you'll only need to provide your fingerprint and/or photograph at the border. The whole process is free and should take just a few minutes, but Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) warns that queues could be longer than usual during the initial rollout.
Previously, Australians would receive a passport stamp on arrival. Some airports may still require this while the EES is being gradually implemented.
What is the Schengen zone?
The Schengen zone consists of 29 European countries with common border rules, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Romania.
The United Kingdom left the EU in 2020, so it’s not part of the Schengen Zone – meaning all Aussie travellers still need to pass through UK border control.