Joint column by Luigi Soreca, the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ambassadors of EU Member States and Schengen associated countries to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Starting tomorrow, 12 October 2025, the 29 member states of the Schengen area will start progressively introducing a new, technologically advanced border management system. The new Entry-Exit System (EES) will make border checks more modern and efficient, and travel across borders easier and faster.
The introduction of the new system will take place over six months, giving national authorities, travellers and carriers time to adapt to the new digital processes at the borders. The Member States are ready for the changes, and the introduction is expected to be smooth. Nonetheless, in the event of excessive waiting times, Member States have the flexibility to partially or fully suspend EES operations, thus minimising the potential for disruption.
As of 10 April 2026, when the progressive implementation phase will have ended, the time-consuming process of stamping passports will no longer be needed at the borders of the Schengen area. An increasing number of self-service systems at borders are expected to be used to verify identities, replacing time-consuming manual checks and helping to reduce queues. This allows staff at border crossing points to focus on more complex tasks.
At the heart of the EES is a new system to verify identities at the border using technology and biometric data. The first time that any traveller crosses the border within a three-year period, they will be asked to scan four fingerprints, and a photograph of their face will be taken. Bosnia and Herzegovina has been issuing biometric passports since 2009. Indeed, this was one of the conditions for obtaining visa-free travel to the Schengen area. The collection of biometric data to verify identities accurately through the EES will reduce identity fraud and help prevent criminals and imposters from crossing the borders, which is in the interests of BiH citizens as well as those in the Schengen area.
Data collected by the EES will be held to the highest standards. Under the EU’s landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ‘purpose limitation’ is a requirement that personal data be collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes, and not be processed further in a manner incompatible with those purposes. Travellers will receive information at borders on how their data is being stored, and this information is also available online.
Bosnia and Herzegovina receiving visa-free travel to the Schengen area was one of the milestones for this country on the EU accession path. Neither the introduction of EES as of 12 October 2025, nor the introduction of the European Travel Information Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is scheduled start operations in the last quarter of 2026, reintroduce visa-like obligations for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Indeed, the increased security that EES and ETIAS offer to both Schengen and non-Schengen countries help to maintain the necessary conditions for the good functioning of the visa-free regime. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s law enforcement and judicial bodies have made good progress in increasing their cooperation with Europol, Eurojust and Frontex. This cooperation will be strengthened over time as BiH makes progress on the EU path, and ultimately – after having fulfilled the necessary conditions – becomes an EU member state.
Overall, the introduction of EES is expected to benefit BiH travellers to the Schengen area and also enhance security across our continent. The introduction of new, technologically advanced systems at borders is something which is not unique to the Schengen area, but is taking place around the world. The countries of the Schengen area look forward to continuing to welcome travellers from Bosnia and Herzegovina while the EES is progressively introduced starting tomorrow!
