Romania introduces the digital border system, from April 10. Britons and Americans will be fingerprinted and photographed
The new entry-exit system from Romania and 28 other European states enters into force on Friday, April 10, bringing a series of new regulations.
The new entry-exit system from Romania and 28 other European states enters into force on Friday
Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 brings a major change in the way the external borders of the European Union are controlled, by introducing the Entry/Exit System (EES). This system becomes operational as of April 10, 2026, including in Romania, and marks the transition from classic controls, based on stamps in the passport, to a fully digital and automated system.
In practice, the EES means that every non-EU citizen entering or leaving the Schengen area will be registered in a common database. At the first border crossing, the person will have to provide biometric data – facial image and fingerprints – and afterwards the system will keep the travel history. Instead of stamps, the authorities will have instant access to information about the date and place of entry, length of stay and any overstays of the legal 90-day period within a 180-day period.
Britons and Americans will be fingerprinted upon entering Romania
For Romanian citizens, the impact is mainly indirect. If a Romanian travels within the European Union, for example from Romania to Italy or Germany, he will not notice any change: there is no border control and the EES does not apply. However, things are changing at the external borders. For example, if someone from Great Britain comes to Romania, upon entry they will be registered in the system, their fingerprints will be taken and their facial photo will be taken. This procedure may take longer on first entry, which may result in longer waiting times at airports or land borders.
Another concrete example: if a person from the United States travels to Europe and first enters through France, the EES registration is done there. If he then arrives in Romania, a new full registration is no longer needed, but the exit from the EU will still be registered in the system. In this way, the authorities know exactly how long that person has spent in the Schengen area and can immediately detect if they have exceeded the legal period.
For Romania, it is important to understand that the EES applies to the external borders, i.e. where there is contact with states outside the EU, such as Serbia, the Republic of Moldova or Turkey. There, non-EU citizens will be registered in the system from April 10, 2026. In contrast, there are no systematic controls at the borders with EU or Schengen member states, so the EES does not intervene.
Stamps are completely removed
A key element brought by the regulation is the complete removal of passport stamps for non-EU citizens and their replacement with digital records. In addition, the system introduces automatic checks that can instantly signal if a person has overstayed or if there are security alerts. Collected data is stored for a specified period (generally up to 3 years for regular trips and longer in case of overages) and access to it is strictly regulated.
Authorities that can access this data include border police and immigration authorities, and under certain strict conditions law enforcement (eg in cases of terrorism or serious crime). The system is interconnected with other European databases, such as the visa system, to enable fast and efficient identity checks.
The EES also changes the way entry refusals are dealt with: they are digitally recorded and can influence future EU access decisions. In practice, this means that travel history becomes much more transparent and easier for authorities to check.
In which European countries does the new system apply?
The system applies in all the states of the Schengen area, i.e. in: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, as well as in the associated Schengen states: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Concretely, the EES does not change the freedom of movement of Romanians within the European Union, but it significantly changes the way citizens from outside the EU are controlled.
For Romanians, the effects will be seen especially in the waiting times at the external borders, in stricter procedures and in the fact that interactions with non-EU citizens will involve more rigorous controls. In the long term, the system is thought to reduce illegal immigration, prevent identity fraud and increase the level of security at the European level, even if in the initial phase it may generate delays and logistical adaptations.
