This includes, among other things, the use of facial recognition upon entry into the EU. The transition to the new system is scheduled for completion by March 2026.
By March 2026, border control at Munich Airport is set to be fully converted to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System. The process began on Tuesday, as announced by the Federal Police at Munich Airport.
Automated Recording Upon Entry to the EU
The new system automatically records the time and place when travelers from non-EU countries cross the external border of the Schengen Area. In the process, biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images are collected. Authorities expect this to enable error-proof and fraud-resistant control, as well as enhance security at Europe’s external borders. The existing practice of stamping passports will be abolished.
For Munich Airport, the Entry/Exit System entails significant changes. It required modernizing control zones, installing new equipment for facial recognition and fingerprint verification, and conducting comprehensive staff training.
Phased Implementation at the Airport Has Already Begun
The rollout of the new system at Munich Airport is now proceeding gradually. It started on only some control lanes, with the full transition scheduled for completion by March 2026. The first traveler to use the new system at Munich Airport, a passenger from Dubai, was welcomed today by the President of the Munich Federal Police Directorate, Dr. Karl Heinz Blüml.
For passengers from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, nothing changes. The Entry/Exit System is intended exclusively for so-called third-country nationals.
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