Starting with October 12, 2025, Romania, together with the other member states of the European Union, will operationalize the Entry/Exit System (EES), a modern control tool at the external border of the Schengen Area.
The EES is an electronic system that records the date and place of entry and exit of third-country nationals admitted for short-term stays - including citizens of the Republic of Moldova, but also their alphanumeric and biometric data (facial image and four fingerprints), and calculates the duration of their authorized stay.The system does not restrict existing travel rights, but provides a faster and more secure verification mechanism, gradually replacing the stamping of travel documents..
Purpose : The aim of implementing this system is to ensure safer, faster and more efficient border control, which will reduce waiting times and contribute to better protection of the borders of the European Union.
Progressive implementation
Based on the latest decisions at European level, the EES will be put into operation progressively, starting with October 12, 2025. Romania will use the phased system, initially at selected crossing points, and it will be gradually expanded, until full implementation at the entire external border, within a maximum period of 170 calendar days.
During the phase-in period, the travel documents of the persons concerned will continue to be stamped upon entry and exit, with manual stamping ceasing once the system is fully operational.
How border control will be carried out within the EES
When a third-country national undergoes border control, he/she presents his/her passport and, if applicable, other necessary documents (e.g. residence permit or local traffic permit). The border guard is entitled to verify the purpose and duration of the journey, as well as proof of means of subsistence.
Upon first entry after the EES becomes operational, biometric data – a facial photograph and four fingerprints - will be collected to create an individual file. On subsequent trips, border checks will be carried out based on the biometric data already recorded, which will shorten the waiting time compared to the first registration in the system.
If all legal conditions are met, entry into the country will be allowed and electronically registered, and the border guard will inform the person about the authorized duration of stay. If, on the contrary, the conditions are not met, the refusal of entry is recorded in the system and also communicated to the person.
Who is covered and what are the exceptions?
- The EES applies to third-country nationals (not part of the European Union, with the exceptions specified by the regulation) who are admitted for a short-term stay (max. 90 days in any 180-day period), including citizens of the Republic of Moldova, as well as third-country nationals who are family members of a Union citizen and do not hold a residence permit.
- Children under 12 years oldand persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible are exempted from fingerprinting.
- Third-country nationals holding a residence document or a long-stay visa issued by an EU Member State, as well as family members of EU citizens holding a residence permit, are not covered by the EES.
Data protection
The data is stored in the system for a period of 3 years (or 5 years in case of refusal of entry or exceeding the legal period of stay), in strict compliance with European data protection legislation. Data subjects have the right to access, rectify and delete data according to the legal framework.
Useful information for travelers
To avoid delays in the border control process, persons benefiting from exceptions from the implementation in the EES system are asked to present, from the moment of the control, the supporting documents attesting to this status.
During the progressive implementation of the EES, the web service for checking the duration of stay will not be available. The automatic calculation of the period of stay will be functional after the full operationalization of the system.
Additional details for travelers are available on the official European Union platform:[https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees\_en](https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en).