Press releasePublished on 9 October 2025

Switzerland introduces Entry/Exit System

Bern-Wabern, 09.10.2025 — The Entry/Exit System (EES) will make it possible to register third-country nationals electronically when they enter or leave the Schengen area. The EES will be gradually introduced throughout the Schengen area from 12 October. Switzerland will begin by using the EES at Basel and Geneva Airports on 12 October, followed by Zurich Airport and the smaller airports from mid-November.

The EES is a newly developed system for managing the Schengen external borders. As a Schengen state, Switzerland is obliged to introduce the EES at all airports with Schengen external borders. The EES has several objectives:

• Travel documents of third-country nationals are no longer stamped manually. Instead, entries and exits are now recorded electronically.
• The system automatically calculates the permitted length of stay. The cantonal migration authorities can reliably identify persons who no longer have a right of residence.
• The visa authorities have a better overview of previous stays in the Schengen area and take this information into account when deciding on a new visa application.
• Recording biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) improves the identification of undocumented persons in Switzerland and helps combat identity fraud.
• Prosecution authorities can obtain indirect access to information from the EES under strict conditions – with the aim of combating serious crime and terrorism more effectively.

What does that mean in concrete terms?

The introduction of the system affects third-country nationals who require a visa and those who are visa-exempt and who wish to stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days. For Swiss nationals and nationals from EU/EFTA states as well as third-country nationals who have a valid residence document such as a residence permit or permanent residence permit in a Schengen state, nothing will change.

The basic entry requirements in accordance with the Schengen Borders Code remain unchanged. However, third-country nationals are obliged to provide a facial image and fingerprints when entering the Schengen area or Switzerland for the first time. Manual stamping of passports will be discontinued after the introductory phase from 9 April 2026 in favour of digital recording.

The introduction at Basel and Geneva Airports will start on 12 October 2025 under the responsibility of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). The Zurich Cantonal Police will put EES into operation at Zurich Airport from 17 November 2025. The introduction of EES at smaller airports such as Lugano, Dübendorf and Bern-Belp will begin between mid-November 2025 and the end of March 2026. The data will be recorded in the EES by the FOCBS or by the respective police authority, depending on who is responsible for border controls.

Travellers from third countries may experience longer waiting and checking times during the introductory phase. They are therefore requested to arrive at the airports in good time.

Addresses for enquiries

For general questions such as coordination with the EU:
State Secretariat for Migration SEM, [e-mail]

For questions about operational implementation at Basel and Geneva Airports:
Federal Office for Customs and Border Security FOCBS, [e-mail]

For questions about operational implementation at Zurich Airport:
Zurich Cantonal Police, [e-mail]

For questions about criminal prosecution in connection with the EES:
Federal Office of Police fedpol, [e-mail]