Starting from Sunday, October 12, a new era of border control begins in Europe. The European Union has activated the Entry/Exit System (EES), an advanced digital border mechanism that replaces traditional passport stamps with biometric registration.
This system will apply across all Schengen zone borders — air, land, and sea — and will directly affect citizens of Albania and all other non-EU countries who travel visa-free to Europe.
For Albanians who frequently travel to Italy, Greece, Germany, France, or other EU states, the change means that border procedures will now include digital fingerprints and facial recognition, while physical passport stamps will no longer be used.
Why the EU Introduced the EES
The main goal of this new border system is to enhance security and manage irregular migration. After years of development, the EU finally launched the EES as part of its Migration and Asylum Pact, aiming to prevent terrorism, strengthen identity verification, and reduce overstaying beyond legal limits.
For Albania and other Western Balkan countries, this step also represents a new phase of cooperation with the EU in maintaining secure borders and preventing illegal migration routes through the region.
The system will also help EU member states track travelers who may violate the 90-day stay rule — a regulation that applies equally to Albanians traveling under visa-free status.
How the New System Works for Albanian Travelers
Under the Entry/Exit System, when an Albanian citizen enters or leaves a Schengen country, border officers will no longer stamp the passport. Instead, the process will be fully digital and biometric:
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Passport scanning: The passport will be scanned electronically.
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Data registration: Personal details will be automatically stored in a central EU database.
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Biometric verification: Fingerprints and a live photograph will be taken at the border.
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Digital profile creation: The traveler’s entry and exit records will be linked to their biometric identity.
When the same person travels again, officers will only need to verify their fingerprints or photo, instead of repeating the full registration.
This innovation will make the border crossing faster and more secure, while reducing the chance of identity fraud or forged travel documents.
Impact on Albanian Citizens Traveling to the EU
For Albanian citizens — who enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen zone since 2010 — the EES brings both advantages and responsibilities.
Advantages:
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Faster and more efficient border checks once registered.
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Enhanced security and protection of identity.
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Reduction of human errors caused by manual stamping.
Responsibilities:
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No more physical proof (stamps) in the passport — travel days will be tracked automatically.
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Any overstay beyond 90 days within a 180-day period will be immediately visible to EU authorities.
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Overstayers may face fines, entry bans, or visa restrictions in the future.
For example, an Albanian tourist who spends three months in Italy must leave the Schengen zone for at least three months before re-entering. The EES will ensure that such rules are strictly monitored.
How It Affects Albania–EU Travel Routes
Many Albanians travel frequently for work, family visits, or tourism through border points in Greece and Italy — the busiest Schengen entry routes for Albania. The new EES will be implemented gradually in these crossings, including airports such as Tirana International Airport (TIA), where border authorities will soon introduce biometric data collection.
For land travelers, particularly those entering through Kakavijë, Kapshticë, or Qafë Thanë, the process may initially take longer as border officers adapt to the new technology. However, once the traveler’s biometric profile is recorded, future crossings will become significantly quicker.