What EU Entry Changes Mean For You

From 12 October 2025, Australians heading to Europe will face a brand-new way of clearing border control. The European Union is rolling out its Entry/Exit System (EES), replacing traditional passport stamping with a high-tech biometric check.

Here’s what it means for your next trip.

Goodbye Passport Stamps, Hello Biometrics

Under the EES, Australians and other non-EU travellers will have their fingerprints and a facial image taken when entering or leaving the Schengen Area.

Your details will be logged in a secure digital database, recording the date and place of entry and exit.

Once you’ve completed this registration, your record will be valid for three years (or until your passport expires), making future crossings smoother.

Who Is Affected?

• All travellers from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, including Australians.
• Applies across the 27 Schengen countries, from France and Italy to Iceland and Switzerland.
• The UK and Ireland are not part of the system.

Why the Change?

The EU says the new rules will:

• Improve security and reduce identity fraud.
• Streamline border checks over time.
• Accurately track stays, making it easier to enforce the 90-days in any 180-day period rule.

What Travellers Should Expect

• First entry after 12 October: extra time at border control for the one-off fingerprint and photo collection.
• Longer queues at airports and land borders while the system beds in.
• Tighter monitoring of overstays – fines and entry bans are more likely if you ignore the 90-day limit.

Tips for Travellers

• Allow extra time at airports, especially during the roll-out phase.
• Check your passport – it must be valid for at least three months beyond your departure from Schengen.
• Track your days carefully – the 90/180 rule will be automatically enforced.
• Have your documents handy – proof of accommodation, onward travel and funds may still be requested.
• Plan ahead for ETIAS – a separate pre-travel authorisation, due to launch in late 2026.

For most Australians, the new system won’t change your ability to travel, but it will change the border experience. Be prepared for extra checks the first time you enter after October, keep your paperwork in order, and stay within the rules.
After the initial teething period, the EES should make trips in and out of Europe faster, safer, and more predictable.

The Schengen Area currently covers 27 European countries where internal border checks are abolished:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland