NEW TRAVEL RULES FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION FROM MARCH 2025

The National Association of Travel Agencies of Serbia (NATAS) has announced that the Entry/Exit System (EES) for controlling entry into European Union countries will first be introduced in the Netherlands, starting at airports and later at seaports.

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According to information from the European Tourism Association (ETOA), the Netherlands will be the first country to fully implement this system, followed by Luxembourg, which plans to introduce biometric border controls by the end of the year.

By March 2025, it is expected that 25 EU member states will adopt the EES system, while Romania and Bulgaria are not planning to implement this technology for now.

HOW THE EES SYSTEM WORKS

The EES system involves biometric checks for travelers entering the EU. These checks include scanning travel documents, as well as facial recognition and fingerprint scans of four fingers. Instead of passport stamps, travelers will be identified through scanners. However, concerns have been raised that older travelers may face difficulties with the new system, potentially causing delays at border crossings.

ETIAS TO FOLLOW IN MAY 2025

In addition to the EES, NATAS states that the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be introduced in May 2025. This system will allow travelers to pre-register their entry to the EU through a simple online application, requiring basic passport and travel information. Once the form is completed, travelers will be redirected to a platform to pay a €7 fee. The authorization obtained via ETIAS will be valid for three years.

DELAYS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC

The European Commission initially planned to introduce the entry control system in 2020, but its implementation was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.