Starting October 12, 2025, Sweden will implement the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) at all airports and ports handling traffic from outside the Schengen area. This system is part of a coordinated roll-out across all Schengen countries. Under the new rules, travellers from non-EU and non-Schengen countries will be required to provide biometric data—specifically, facial photos and fingerprints—each time they enter or leave Sweden.
Key Points of the New System:
- Who is affected: All non-EU/Schengen nationals entering or leaving Sweden through external borders. EU and Schengen citizens are exempt.
- Biometric data collection: Fingerprints and facial photos will be taken and processed at the border. This step replaces the current practice of manually stamping passports.
- Purpose: The EES system is designed to strengthen internal EU security, prevent identity fraud, and more effectively track overstays in the Schengen area.
- Roll-out: The system will apply at all major ports of entry, including airports and ferry terminals, from October 12, 2025.
- Queue times: Travelers may experience longer wait times as the system is introduced, but Swedish police expect the process to become smoother with experience.
Additional Details:
- Data storage: Biometric and travel data will be stored in a secure, central EU database. This information is typically deleted after three years.
- Pre-registration app: Sweden is piloting the “Travel to Europe” app at Arlanda Airport that allows non-EU travellers to pre-register their documents and face images to facilitate a quicker border process. This is voluntary and may be expanded to more entry points in the future.
Exclusions and Special Cases:
- EU/Schengen nationals: Citizens from EU and Schengen countries remain exempt from the EES requirements and standard internal border checks, except in exceptional circumstances (e.g., temporary reintroduction of border controls for security reasons).
- Third-country family members: Special rules may apply if they accompany or join an EU/EEA citizen.
- Visa applicants: Already provide biometrics when applying for a Schengen visa.
- Children under 12 and some dignitaries: Exempt from fingerprinting requirements according to standard EU visa rules.
Background:
The EES is part of the EU’s move toward digital, more secure borders. It is intended to reduce fraudulent use of documents and improve identification across member states. The system also aims to streamline and replace the process of manual passport stamping, making border crossings both more secure and eventually faster.
For the most up-to-date details, travellers should check with the Swedish Police Authority or the Swedish government’s official travel and immigration sites.