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Provisional agreement reached on phased implementation of EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
June 13, 2025
By: Hannah In-Chan, Director, Newland Chase Advisory
This phased implementation plan signals tangible progress toward the long-anticipated launch of the EES, originally scheduled for 2024. The gradual rollout represents a pragmatic approach, aimed at reducing disruption and ensuring that technical and operational issues are addressed effectively during the early stages.
The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement to allow EU Member States to introduce the Entry/Exit System (EES) through a phased rollout over a six-month period. This approach is designed to ensure a more manageable and stable implementation process.
Under the agreement, Member States will be required to meet the following deployment milestones:
- One month after official launch: Register a minimum of 10 percent of all border crossings (air, sea, and land)
- Three months after official launch: Register a minimum of 35 percent of all border crossings
- Six months after official launch: Full registration of all border crossings across all entry points
Additionally, during the first 60 days following the official launch, EU countries may operate the EES without the biometric functionality enabled.
The agreement also allows for temporary partial or full suspension of EES operations at specific border crossing points under exceptional circumstances, such as excessive traffic that could lead to severe processing delays.
Travelers and organizations should begin preparing for the upcoming changes and stay informed as additional implementation details are released.
Please reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
