On Sunday, October 12, 2025, the Entry/Exit System (EES), a modern electronic control tool for the external borders of the European Union, will be operationalized at the European Union level.
In Romania, the system will be operationalized in stages, starting with the border crossing points Midia (Constanța County), Stânca (Botoșani County), Naidaș (Caraș-Severin County), Sighet (Maramureș County) and Sibiu Airport, and will be gradually extended to the other border crossing points in the following period (maximum 170 days).
We remind you that the EES applies only to citizens of non-EU countries who intend to make short stays in the European Union (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). The system will record the date and place of entry and exit for non-EU citizens, collect alphanumeric and biometric data (facial image and four fingerprints) and automatically calculate the legal duration of stay.
During the transition period (approximately 6 months), passports will continue to be stamped manually.
The implementation of the system aims to achieve more secure and efficient control, gradually replacing the manual stamping of travel documents, without modifying existing movement rights.
Upon first entry, after activating the system, biometric data will be collected, and on subsequent trips, verification will be performed automatically, reducing waiting time at the border.
Fingerprinting through the EES system applies to citizens of NON-EU countries, with the exception of children under 12 years of age, persons for whom fingerprinting is impossible and holders of residence permits or long-term visas issued by an EU Member State.
The data will be kept for 3 years (or 5 years in case of refusal of entry or exceeding the legal duration of stay), in strict compliance with European data protection legislation.
Additional details for travelers are available on the official European Union platform –www.travel-europe.europa.eu/ees.
