Schengen: Entry/Exit-System (EES) in operation
On 12 October 2025, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) went into operation in the Schengen area. It was developed by the EU to prevent irregular migration and improve security in the Schengen area. As an associated member of Schengen, Switzerland participates in this information system alongside 28 other European states. The FDPIC has created sample letters that data subjects can use to assert their rights.
Instead of the previous manual stamping of travel documents at the Schengen external borders, the Entry/Exit-System (EES) will now use electronic recording. The remaining permitted length of stay in the Schengen area will also be calculated automatically.
The EES records personal data from travel documents such as name, date of birth and place of birth. It also records entry and exit dates and biometric data such as facial images and fingerprints of travellers. The EES therefore also processes sensitive personal data, which is why the effective exercise of the rights of the data subjects and the monitoring of this data processing are of crucial importance.
When crossing the Schengen external border, travellers will be adequately informed about their rights regarding the processing of their personal data in the EES and about how to exercise these rights. Authorities that process personal data in the EES, such as border guards, migration authorities and, under certain conditions, law enforcement authorities, must ensure that data subjects can easily request access to their data. The FDPIC has provided sample letters on its website to help data subjects exercise their rights.
The EES will be introduced gradually in the Schengen states over a period of six months. Basel and Geneva airports started on 12 October 2025. Zurich Airport will begin the roll-out on 17 November 2025. The smaller airports with Schengen external borders will follow in the coming months.
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) and the national data protection authorities of the Schengen area (CSC Coordinated Supervision Committee) are responsible for the coordinated supervision of data processing in large-scale EU information systems such as the EES.
Further information on the EES is provided by the State Secretariat for Migration SEM and the European Union.