Our vision for the EU Entry/Exit System

By 2022, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EU-EES) regulation will require the biometric identification of Third Country Nationals (TCNs) at external borders of the Schengen Area. The face and fingerprints of each TCN will be captured at every border crossing.

Through the Smart Borders initiative, the EU will implement one of the largest biometric systems in the world. As a long-standing partner of the European institutions and governments, IDEMIA has been selected by the European agency eu-LISA for the design and implementation of the shared Biometric Matching System (sBMS), along with its partners Sopra Steria and Accenture. The sBMS aims to put an end to illegal immigration and cross-border crime, and will be used for the future EU Entry/Exit System. Within this framework, the first time a Third Country National (TCN) visits Europe, they are registered and searched in the sBMS. Using biometric verification, the authorities will be able to check whether they are the person they claim to be. Authorities will also be able to ensure that visitors do not overstay in the country. More than ever before, technology can make the world a safer place.

The new EU-EES will affect the border clearance processes for all member states. Stakeholders expect longer waiting times due to limited space in airports, land and sea borders, and the inability to increase personnel to process more TCNs. At the forefront of the European transformation for a safer continent, IDEMIA is fully committed to providing border control agencies and operators with solutions that ensure both security and convenience for travelers visiting Europe.