EU Implements Stricter Border Checks to Combat Overstaying and Identity Fraud

Brussels — In a landmark shift for European border security, the European Union has initiated the phased rollout of a new digital Entry-Exit System (EES) at its external Schengen borders, effective 12 October 2025. The reform marks a decisive move to tighten checks on non-EU nationals, with a specific focus on identifying overstayers and preventing identity fraud.

The EES is designed to replace the traditional passport stamping process: instead, non-EU travellers will be required to register biometric data — including fingerprints and photographs — on first entry, and to verify their identity via facial recognition on subsequent visits.

Commissioner Magnus Brunner, responsible for Internal Affairs and Migration, described the system as the “digital backbone” of Europe’s renewed migration and asylum framework. He asserted that the move would strengthen border control, reduce bureaucratic inconsistencies, and enable member states to better detect irregular stays.

Phased Rollout, But Immediate Impact

The new system is being introduced in stages over six months, aiming for full implementation by 10 April 2026. During the transition, passport stamping will remain in place, though increasingly supplemented by electronic registration.

At key entry points — such as the Bajakovo crossing between Serbia and Croatia — travellers have already encountered delays of 15 to 20 minutes as machines are installed and staff adapts to new procedures. Some border agents have reportedly resorted to ad hoc methods, such as taking photographs with mobile devices when scanners failed or were unavailable.

In the United Kingdom, initial EES checks have been applied to freight and coach traffic at Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal, with full vehicle processing slated for later phases. The Port of Dover expects processing per vehicle under the new system to take about six minutes — a significant increase from current times — but has invested in infrastructure to mitigate congestion.

Objectives: Overstayers and Fraud in the Spotlight

One of the central motivations behind the new measures is to clamp down on overstays — when non-EU nationals exceed the 90-day limit within a 180-day period under visa-free regimes. The EES links travel documents with a biometric identity, enabling real-time crosschecks when travellers depart.

Additionally, fraudsters attempting to exploit counterfeit passports or identity documents will find fewer opportunities under a system that ties biometric data to legal travel movements. The digitisation of entry and exit logs is expected to better detect mismatches or suspicious patterns.

Challenges, Criticism, and Early Missteps

While the EU anticipates long-term gains in security and efficiency, the initial deployment has not been seamless. In Poland, for instance, reports emerged of “chaotic” processing, conflicting instructions for travellers who had already registered their biometrics, and delays cascading into train schedules. Border authorities in Warsaw issued warnings about early hiccups, acknowledging that some equipment was faulty or not deployed in time.

Critics warn that longer wait times and logistical disruptions could undermine public confidence and hurt tourism. Some civil liberties groups have also raised concerns about data privacy, retention, and cross-border sharing of biometric records. The EU has responded by highlighting robust safeguards and limited data retention periods as core components of the EES regulation.

Implications for Third-Country Nationals, Including India

Travellers from India and other non-EU nations will be subject to the new protocol when entering Schengen states. Their passports, fingerprint scans, and facial images will be taken on first entry, and later entries will require verification against stored biometric data. India’s media have flagged the change, noting that this constitutes one of the most significant overhauls in European travel procedures in decades.

Authorities emphasize that children under 12 will be photographed under EES, but fingerprinting is waived for minors. Refusal to provide biometric data could result in denied entry.

Looking Ahead: A New Era of Border Governance

If smoothly executed, the EES promises to grant the EU a unified, real-time view of non-EU nationals’ entry and exit patterns, transforming how migration flows are monitored and regulated. Over time, the system may reduce paperwork, speed up trusted traveller lanes, and improve inter-state cooperation on security and migration enforcement.

However, success hinges on rigorous training, deployment of resilient infrastructure, public awareness campaigns, and constant system audits. Europe's borders — especially those facing migration pressure or heavy transits — will serve as real-time laboratories for this ambitious experiment in digital sovereignty and border management.

As the full implementation date approaches, travellers, states, and civil society actors alike will watch closely to see whether the EU can balance security with mobility in a continent built on the principle of free movement.