New EU-wide entry procedure

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system that registers travellers at the external borders of the Schengen Area. It applies specifically to third-country nationals - that is, persons who do not hold the nationality of an EU Member State, a country of the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland - who enter or exit the Schengen Area for a short stay without a residence permit.

For these travellers, the border control process will change. The EES will largely replace the manual stamping of passports, as biometric data (such as facial image and fingerprints) will now be recorded electronically.

In Austria, data will be collected at the external air borders, namely at the six international airports of Graz, Vienna-Schwechat, Salzburg, Linz, Innsbruck, and Klagenfurt. The EES will be introduced gradually from October 12, 2025, and is expected to be fully operational across the EU by April 10, 2026.

The EES border control applies to travellers who are not EU citizens and who enter a European country participating in the Entry/Exit System for a short stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. These travellers will either:

• Hold a short-stay visa (travel visa or Schengen visa type C), or
• Not require a visa to stay in the European Union for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Not affected are EU citizens, citizens of Schengen-associated countries (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), as well as persons holding a valid residence permit or long-term visa for the EU. Citizens of Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino, as well as holders of passports issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See, are also exempt from EES registration.

For detailed information on exemptions, please visit the European Union’s official travel pages on the Entry/Exit System (EES).

When crossing the border for the first time (upon entry or exit), a personal EES file will be created for each traveller. The following data will be recorded electronically:

• Name, travel document, and nationality
• Date and place of entry and exit
• Biometric data (facial image and fingerprints)

The EES file will be stored for a period of three years and one day after the date of the last exit or refusal of entry record. This period may be extended.

Data collection is carried out at the border control desk by border personnel. The transition to the new system will take place gradually, and there will be information and assistance available at all border crossing points. The EES will be fully operational across the EU by April 10, 2026. From that point onward, travellers will be legally required under EU law to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) as part of the border control process.

If you are entering your information into the EES at Graz Airport for the first time, we recommend allowing extra time for both check-in and border control procedures, especially if you need to catch a connecting flight or train.

Please also ensure that your travel documents - including your passport and any required visas - are valid.

For the latest updates and detailed information, please visit the website of your national authority or the official website of the European Commission on the Entry/Exit System (EES) before travelling.

In addition to the Entry/Exit System, the European Union is expected to introduce the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) in the last quarter of 2026. ETIAS will be an electronic travel authorisation required for visa-exempt third-country nationals, to be obtained before travelling. Similar systems already exist for travel to the United States (ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization) and the United Kingdom (ETA – Electronic Travel Authorisation).

• EES – Entry Exit System – European Union
• ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorisation System – European Union
• Visa - Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
• Schengen States – Federal Chancellery of Austria