EES – Operational at Sibiu International Airport
Starting October 12, 2025, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is operational at Sibiu International Airport, as part of the new European framework for managing the EU’s external borders.
Sibiu International Airport is the first in Romania to implement this system. Thanks to its existing modern equipment, the airport can integrate new border control technologies, ensuring a more efficient and secure process for passengers while helping to streamline border formalities.
What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a modern electronic solution for controlling the external borders of the Schengen Area, which became operational across all European Union member states starting October 12, 2025. In Romania, the implementation of the system will be carried out gradually, with plans to extend it to all border crossing points within a maximum of 170 days.
EES replaces manual passport stamping with a digital record of entry and exit data for non-EU, non-EEA, and Swiss citizens. It uses biometric information—fingerprints and facial images—for faster and more secure border control.
Personal Data Stored by EES
Specifically, upon their first entry into the European Union, non-EU citizens making short-term stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period) will have their biometric data collected. For subsequent trips, verification will be performed automatically, significantly reducing waiting times at the border.
Fingerprinting through the EES applies to non-EU citizens, except for children under 12, individuals for whom fingerprinting is impossible, and holders of residence permits or long-stay visas issued by an EU member state.
The system will automatically record the date and place of entry and exit for non-EU citizens, collecting both alphanumeric and biometric data—facial images and four fingerprints—and will automatically calculate the duration of the legal stay. During the transition period, estimated at approximately six months, passports will continue to be stamped manually.
The First Flight with EES Control Procedures
The first scheduled flight from Romania to a third country following the EES implementation took place on the Sibiu International Airport – London Luton route, departing at 18:05 on October 12, 2025.
Full details about the EES system are available on the official EU page: Entry/Exit System (EES).
Sources:
Sibiu International Airport: Sibiu International Airport – the first airport in Romania where the Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes operational for border control
MAI (Ministry of Internal Affairs): Operationalization of the Entry/Exit System (EES) at the external borders of the European Union, starting October 12, 2025
