The European Union has approved the phased launch of the digital entry/exit system to the EU for citizens of Moldova and other non-EU countries
In particular, EU interior ministers have agreed on the gradual introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) - an IT system for registering the entry and exit to the Schengen area of non-EU citizens traveling to the EU for a short period of time. Their registration will take place at the moment of crossing the external border of any of the European countries using this system. EU states will be able to gradually launch the EES over a 6-month transition period before fully launching the new system. Once MEPs have worked out their position, the Council and the European Parliament will begin negotiations to adopt the final law. Ministers also approved a revised roadmap for the launch of a number of systems related to border control. According to the document, the EES will start to be gradually implemented in October 2025. The revised Eurodac, the EU's biometric database to help identify asylum seekers, will go live in June 2026. And the European Travel and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be finally launched in the last quarter of 2026. ETIAS is an online travel permit, not a visa. With a valid ETIAS authorization, non-EU citizens will be able to stay in any of 30 European countries for 90 days in any 180-day period. To apply for an ETIAS, one must have a passport valid for more than 3 months, provide an email address, complete the online form and pay a fee of €7 (one-time fee for 3 years). The ETIAS travel permit will be linked to the traveler's passport and is valid for up to 3 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. A new ETIAS travel authorization will be required when a new passport is obtained. // 11.03.2025 - InfoMarket
