The information on this page applies in general to all Swedavia airports. However, the situation may differ between airports in terms of signage, passenger flows and impact; all based on the number of Non-Schengen flights and passengers handled.
|
Purpose
The aim is to have safer borders – the Entry Exit System will make it easier to identify travellers who are trying to enter or leave the Schengen area under false identity or with a forged passport, as well as people who have stayed in the Schengen area for longer than the permitted time.
The new system will be introduced on October 12, 2025 – all EU countries will start at the same time. Some countries will gradually introduce the system in different stages during six months. Sweden will fully introduce the system from the start.
Who is affected by the change?
Only non-EU nationals are affected by the new system. For them, new procedures will be added when entering the EU/Schengen area.
Who is a “non-EU national”?
For the Entry Exit System, a “non-EU national” is a traveller who is not a citizen of any EU country or of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
Are there exceptions - "non-EU nationals" who are not affected?
Yes, there are a number of exceptions and all questions about these should be referred to the Police. The clearest exception applies to people who are citizens of a country outside the EU but have a residence permit and thus the right to reside in Sweden or another EU/Schengen country. There is information available on the Police and EU websites to refer to in this matter.
What does the change in passport control mean for “non-EU nationals”?
The first time they travel to the EU/Schengen area after October 12, they must, in addition to showing their passport and any other permits, also take a facial photo and provide fingerprints. This biometric information, as it is called, is registered by the Police in a personal file together with the time and place of entry or exit.
The handling can lead to longer processing times in the control – after all, it involves additional steps that the Police must carry out.
Should this happen every time they travel to the EU/Schengen area?
No, the next time the photo and fingerprints are already registered in the system. Then the passport inspector only needs to verify that the photo and fingerprints are correct, which takes less time.
The registration is valid for three years. However, the Police have the right to collect the photo and fingerprints again whenever they wish.
Should children also provide their photo and fingerprints?
- Children under 12 only need to provide a photo, not fingerprints.
- Children from the age of 12 must provide both a photo and fingerprints.
Who is NOT affected by the introduction of the Entry Exit System?
- Travelers traveling within the EU/Schengen area are of course not affected. Only about 30 percent of the total number of travelers at Swedavia's airports pass through a border control.
- Swedes and other EU nationals are not affected either, they are traveling "home". They still need to show their passports, but they do not need to register a photo and fingerprints.
- Flight crew on duty are also not covered by the Entry Exit System.
- People with dual citizenship - Swedish or EU plus other - are also not affected. We know that this group often takes precautions and chooses the All passports queue. When the Entry Exit System starts, they should use their Swedish/EU passport. They do not need to take a photo or provide fingerprints, but should follow the EU passports signage all the way from the aircraft.
Can travelers themselves do something to speed up the process?
In advance
- To speed up the process at passport control, non-EU nationals can register some information in advance.
- In Sweden, registration is done in advance in an app provided by Frontex; the EU's border and coast guard agency.
- The app, called Travel to Europe, will be available for downloading from October 12. Here, travelers can pre-register their photo, passport data and answer the questions in an "Entry Conditions Questionnaire". From October 12, travelers can register information up to 72 hours before their departure.
- Airlines and tour operators are encouraged to include information about the app and the possibility of pre-registration in their communications with Non-Schengen travelers.
At the airport
Here it is important that travelers follow the correct passenger flow and signage:
- Non-EU citizens follow All passports/All other passports
- Swedes and EU citizens follow EU passport
What applies to departing travelers - should they be registered when they leave the EU/Schengen area from a Swedish airport?
- During the first three months after October 12, non-EU nationals who are already in Sweden will be registered upon departure.
- Many nationalities are allowed to stay for 90 days visa-free during a 180-day period. If they want to stay longer than that, they apply for a visa and then they are photographed and fingerprinted at an embassy. After 90 days, it is expected that all visa-exempt travelers have left Sweden.
Do departing travelers need to arrive at the airport earlier?
- No, and that can be an important message. We know from experience that “arriving early” can be the first action travelers take when they hear about new procedures at the airport.
- In this case, there are no changes to the guidelines for when they should be at the airport before departure. Passport control is after check-in and security control, and arriving very early does not speed up the process.
- The recommendation is that travelers should follow the airlines' recommendations for when they should be at the airport, this take into account all perspectives.
What will be important to us when the travelers concerned land at our airports?
- That travelers end up in the right passenger flow:
- EU passports
- All other passports
- The airport and the Police's joint preparations are about making the process at the airport as smooth as possible for those affected by the Entry Exit System and minimizing the impact on Swedes and EU nationals who are not actually affected.
- In order to speed up the processing at passport control, it is important that all travelers are prepared and prepared for the various steps - that they have their passports ready, that they understand that they and any children they may have will be photographed, fingerprinted, etc. Here, the airport assists the Police with signage in the passenger flow between the aircraft and passport control and showing an instructional film at the passport booths.
More about the Travel to Europe app - the possibility of pre-registration
- The first time non-EU nationals travel into the EU/Schengen area after October 12, the Police will create a personal file for each traveler. This will register the passport, other permits, facial photo, fingerprints, and time and place of entry or exit.
- Travelers can start creating their personal file themselves by registering their passport data, travel details (which airport they will fly to and on which date) and their facial photo in advance, as well as answering a few questions about the trip. The personal file is then completed at passport control, and it is only here that the green light for entry is given.
- The countries that apply the Entry Exit System have the freedom to choose different digital self-service solutions for registration in advance; for example, Entry Exit kiosks at airports or apps for registration off the airport.
- The Swedish police/border control authority* has chosen the app solution that Frontex offered to the countries.
- The Travel to Europe app will be available from October 12 for the airports* Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Gothenburg Landvetter Airport, Malmö Airport and Bromma Stockholm Airport. After that, travelers can use the app 72 hours before departure.
*Usage or no usage of the app is also governed by the police region in which the airports are located.
