From 12 October, citizens of North Macedonia will have to provide biometric information – fingerprints and a photograph – when they cross the borders of the EU Schengen area. The requirement is part of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) that will be rolled out gradually over the following six months.
Children up to the age of 12 are exempt from this obligation.
The EES is designed to record every entry, exit and possible refusal, strengthening border security, reducing identity fraud and helping to monitor overstays beyond the 90‑day limit. At the same time, the system aims to speed up processing times once fully operational.
Implementation will occur in four phases. In the first 30 days, about 10 % of travelers will be screened. This share will rise to 35 % within the first three months, reach roughly 50 % after about five months, and finally cover all passengers by the end of the sixth month.
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), scheduled to start in the second half of 2026, is a separate mechanism. ETIAS will require visa‑free travelers to complete an online pre‑travel registration, costing €20 and valid for three years, with exemptions for people under 18 and over 70. Both systems will operate side by side.
Source: www.cereport.eu
Read also: YachtingRetreat: Transform Your Journey with a Spiritual Sailing Retreat on a Private Route