The European Union is changing the rules for crossing borders by foreigners, including Ukrainians, the press service of the Ukrainian government reports.
“Starting November 10, a new IT system EES (Entry/Exit System) will be launched at the EU borders. It will automatically record the entry and exit of all foreigners to the Schengen countries. This applies to all non-EU citizens, including Ukrainians, regardless of whether they have a visa or a visa-free regime,” the telegram channel said.
The EES system will reportedly record the biometric data of a person crossing the border once and store it for three years.
“There will be no more stamps in the passport. Registration will take place automatically through self-service terminals,” the government said.
Thus, when a person enters the EU for the first time, biometric data will be taken: fingerprints and a photo of the face.
“The border crossing time may increase by about 40 seconds while your data is being collected. The biometric data will be stored for 3 years, and you do not need to re-submit it. If you refuse biometrics, you will be denied entry. Then, every time you cross the border, you will need to scan your passport at a self-service terminal,” the statement explains.
The new system is expected to simplify border crossings, enhance security with biometric documents, and help prevent the use of fake passports and combat illegal migration.
