EU to launch digital Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS travel authorisation from April 2026

From 10 April 2026 the European Union’s Schengen area will activate the Entry/Exit System (EES), a fully automated border‑control mechanism that records each traveller’s biometric data and the exact dates of entry and exit. The system replaces physical passport stamps in 27 of the 29 Schengen states, leaving only Cyprus and Ireland still using manual stamps.

The rollout coincides with the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which requires visitors from visa‑free countries to obtain pre‑travel authorisation. Together the measures tighten monitoring of the 90‑day stay limit, with penalties that can include heavy fines, immediate deportation and multi‑year bans for overstays or rule violations. The changes affect all non‑EU visitors, including Serbian nationals, who must now track their time in the zone using official calculators to avoid breaches.