If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland in mid-October 2025 or beyond, airport border controls will undergo a significant change.
Starting this October, Switzerland will begin rolling out the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital system designed to make travel into the Schengen Area more secure and efficient.
Yes, more secure for them, but a little more painful and slow for you!
Here’s everything you need to know about how it works, when it starts, and what it means for you.
What Is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EES is a new electronic border system being introduced across all Schengen countries. It replaces manual passport stamping with a digital record of when and where non-EU travelers enter and leave the Schengen Area.
The system will collect basic biometric data, such as fingerprints and a facial image, the first time you enter a Schengen country.
After that, your information will stay on file for three years, so you won’t need to register again on each trip.
The main goal is to
- make border checks faster in the long term
- improve security
- automatically detect overstays (beyond the 90-day limit for short-term visitors)
When Will It Start in Switzerland? (Important Dates)
Switzerland will begin implementing EES at its airports in phases:
- October 12, 2025 – EES goes live at Geneva Airport and Basel EuroAirport.
- November 17, 2025 – Zurich Airport begins a gradual rollout.
- Early 2026 – Smaller airports such as Bern Belp and Lugano will follow between January and March 2026.
Who Needs to Use the New System?
EES applies to travelers from outside the EU or Schengen Area, such as those from:
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- 🇬🇧 The United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 The United States
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇦🇺 Australia
These changes will not affect you if you’re an EU or Schengen citizen or a non-EU national who lives legally in Switzerland or another Schengen country.
What to Expect at the Airport
When you arrive in Switzerland from a non-Schengen country such as the UK or the US, you’ll:
- Register at a self-service kiosk where you’ll scan your passport and have your photo taken.
- Proceed to border control, where biometric data such as fingerprints will be recorded.
Once registered, your details are stored securely for three years, so future trips should be quicker.
This new process replaces the manual passport stamp you’ve received until now.
Will It Slow Things Down?
Yes, at first, especially for travelers using the system for the first time. Swiss airports are expecting longer lines during the early weeks of the rollout.
To make things easier:
- Arrive earlier than usual for your flight.
- Follow airport signs for EES registration.
- Check your airline’s guidance before departure.
Swiss airports will also run information campaigns to help passengers navigate the change smoothly.
What Comes Next
The EES is part of a broader modernization of Europe’s border systems. It will be followed by the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is expected to launch in late 2026.
That means by 2026, travelers from visa-exempt countries like the US, UK, and Canada will need to apply online for ETIAS travel authorization before entering Switzerland or any other Schengen country.
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This EES system sounds like the Schengen Area finally decided to get with the digital age, but with a charmingly old-school side effect: border control is apparently becoming more like a slightly awkward first date. Swapping a simple stamp for biometrics and self-service kiosks – because lets face it, asking your passport for fingerprints is much more personal. I love the may slow things down at first honesty! Bring snacks and arrive super early, folks. Cant wait for 2026 when well need an actual *authorization* pass to just *look* at the Alps! More steps, less scenic views, I guess. Efficient, but at what cost?MIM