EU confirms new phased entry/exit system: What Schengen travellers must know
UAE residents face delays as visa slots remain booked till mid-August
DUBAI: In a landmark move to modernise European border control, the European Union has confirmed a six-month phased launch of its Entry/Exit System (EES) across the Schengen area.
This advanced IT platform will gradually replace manual passport stamping with biometric registration, bringing in a new era of security and efficiency for non-EU short-stay travellers.
The newly agreed rollout, endorsed by the European Council and Parliament, gives EU member states flexibility to transition into the system at their own pace. Border authorities and transport operators now have until the end of this transition period to fully adjust, with EES operations expected to be live across all Schengen border crossings by 2026.
Under the regulation, the EES will digitally log traveller data including passport details, facial images, and fingerprints. It will also automatically calculate permitted stay durations – specifically the 90-days-in-any-180-day rule that applies to most non-EU visitors.
Gradual rollout
The six-month phased deployment allows member states to begin EES operations at a minimum of 10 percent of border points in the first month, without mandatory biometric checks. By the third month, at least 35 percent of crossing points must include full biometric registration. Full deployment is expected by the end of the six-month window.
To ensure continuity during the transition, manual passport stamping will continue until the system reaches complete coverage. Member states may also suspend EES usage temporarily – up to six hours – in cases of technical issues or exceptionally high traffic volumes.
The regulation takes into account the diverse operational readiness of individual countries. While some member states are prepared for a full launch from day one, others may take the entire 180-day window to scale up.
A final start date has yet to be issued, as the European Commission will make this decision separately.
UAE travellers face gridlock
The announcement comes at a time when Schengen visa demand is overwhelming consular services – particularly in the UAE. As of May 2025, appointment slots for most Schengen countries are fully booked until mid-August, leaving thousands of summer holiday plans hanging in the balance.
According to visa statistics, over 260,000 Schengen visa applications were filed from the UAE in 2024. Of these, 196,109 were approved, while 61,738 were rejected. France, Italy, and the Netherlands were among the top destinations of choice for UAE travellers:
- Germany: 32,956 applications, 23,399 approved
- France: 28,778 applications, 23,093 approved
- Netherlands: 29,473 applications, 22,427 approved
Despite the volume, the visa approval rate for UAE-based applicants remains relatively high. Still, processing delays – now stretching beyond four weeks post-appointment – are forcing travel agents to suggest alternative destinations.
Even non-Schengen countries like the UK are experiencing a domino effect, with visa processing times extending to nearly two months.
Growing demand of Schengen visa
The visa pressure isn’t isolated to the UAE. According to the latest European Commission data, over 11.7 million short-stay visa applications were received across EU consulates globally in 2024 – a 13.6% increase from 2023 (10.3 million) and a 56% increase from 2022 (7.5 million).
More than 9.7 million visas were approved in 2024, up 14.1% from 2023. However, this figure still falls short of pre-pandemic levels, which peaked at 15 million in 2019.
While demand is rising, rejection rates have remained relatively stable, especially in certain countries. Here are the latest figures from 2024:
- Iceland: 35,413 applications, 2,290 rejected (rejection rate: 6.6%)
- Bulgaria: 122,229 applications, 12,246 rejected (9.4%)
- Romania: 35,359 applications, 3,281 rejected (9.4%)
- Slovakia: 14,215 applications, 1,419 rejected (9.9%)
- Italy: 1.2 million applications, 134,303 rejected (10.9%)
- Latvia: 17,654 applications, 1,908 rejected (10.9%)
- Switzerland: 636,077 applications, 71,664 rejected (11.3%)
- Poland: 206,420 applications, 22,232 rejected (11.3%)
- Hungary: 251,364 applications, 32,092 rejected (12.8%)
- Norway: 149,988 applications, 19,192 rejected (12.8%)
These figures indicate a widening gap between demand and processing capacity, particularly in high-demand destinations. However, travellers targeting countries with lower rejection rates – such as Iceland or Romania – may find a smoother application process.
What's next?
To prepare for the upcoming shift, EU member states are already taking steps on the ground:
- Border officer training is underway across the Schengen Zone to familiarise staff with EES procedures.
- Major airports such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Paris Charles de Gaulle are installing biometric kiosks to handle the anticipated passenger flow.
- A mobile app is also being developed to allow travellers to pre-register their biometric data before reaching the border, potentially reducing wait times.
Once the European Commission confirms the official launch date, the six-month transition will begin – ushering in one of the most significant updates to Schengen travel in decades.
For now, non-EU travellers – including UAE residents – are advised to stay informed, monitor visa appointment updates, and prepare for a future where European borders become smarter, faster, and far more connected.