The EU's Entry-Exit System will require more non-EU nationals entering Schengen to provide extra personal data at arrival and departure; outlets say more than a third of non-EU arrivals will be affected. The change may alter arrival procedures at airports and could lengthen border checks for some travellers. Non-EU expats and visitors should check ID and documentation requirements ahead of travel and expect possible longer processing at Portuguese airports.
New Entry-Exit rules require extra data at borders
Monday, 12 January 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The Entry-Exit System (Sistema de Entrada e Saída) is an EU border-register that records biometric data (fingerprints and a facial image) and travel details for short-stay non‑EU travellers, replacing passport stamping and creating a searchable entry/exit record. According to recent reporting, the new rules now require over a third of non‑EU nationals entering Schengen to provide this extra data at the border; the aim is to improve security and migration tracking, but travellers should be prepared to submit biometrics at kiosks or border control and ensure their travel documents are valid. For expats and visitors this usually means slightly longer checks on arrival/departure and more robust digital records of your travel history.
