Europe readies EES checks as China extends visa-free travel

The travel landscape in 2025, 26 is being reshaped on two fronts: the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) has begun its phased operation across Schengen external borders, while China has broadened and extended visa‑free entry for dozens of nationalities. Together these moves mean practical changes for travellers, airlines, tour operators and border authorities , from biometric enrolment at first entry to pre‑travel authorisation requirements that are due to arrive after the EES rollout.

For travellers and carriers alike, the overlapping timelines matter. EES aims to digitise and strengthen checks at EU external borders starting with the system’s operation from 12 October 2025 and a planned full deployment by 10 April 2026. China’s extension of unilateral 30‑day visa‑free entry through 31 December 2026 and other relaxing measures are already driving demand into and out of Asia, creating a busy season for global aviation and border services.

How the Entry/Exit System works in practice

EES electronically records travellers’ biographical passport data, a facial image and fingerprints , described in regulatory and technical texts as two biometric identifiers (four fingerprints and a facial image). The system also logs the date and place of each entry and exit at Schengen external borders.

The legal framework sets data retention for personal files at up to five years. That retention window is intended to support enforcement (for example detecting overstayers) while meeting legal safeguards that govern access and use of the data under EU law.

Operationally, EES replaces manual passport stamping with digital checks and biometric enrolment at first entry. Border guards and automated kiosks will both be part of the system depending on location and implementation choices by national authorities.

Timetable: rollout, transition windows and ETIAS sequencing

EU officials confirm that EES became operational on 12 October 2025 with a six‑month phased rollout and is scheduled to be fully operational at all external border crossing points on 10 April 2026. The phased approach is intended to iron out teething problems and allow carriers and border authorities to adapt.

Carriers have transition windows for how they connect to and query the system: eu‑LISA guidance allows optional use of a carrier interface during the early phase but makes carrier checks and queries mandatory as of 10 April 2026. Those obligations include verifying short‑stay visa usage and, later, ETIAS authorisations prior to boarding.

ETIAS (the European Travel Information and Authorisation System) follows EES in the Commission’s timetable. Officials expect ETIAS to start in the last quarter of 2026 with further transitional measures afterwards. In short: EES first (Oct 2025 → Apr 2026 full deployment), then ETIAS as a pre‑travel authorisation that carriers must check before boarding.

Who participates and what carriers must do

EES is being introduced across 29 European states: the 25 EU Member States participating in the Schengen acquis plus four Schengen‑associated states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The Commission and eu‑LISA provide detailed participation lists and technical guidance for national authorities and carriers.

Carriers are required to register with eu‑LISA and to adapt their booking and check‑in systems to query EES and, later, ETIAS. The implementing regulations and eu‑LISA materials set the technical and legal obligations carriers must follow to avoid transporting inadmissible passengers.

During the transition, carriers are expected to reconcile electronic EES checks with traditional passport stamping where stamping remains in use. The carrier interface is optional initially but becomes mandatory from the full deployment date, which gives operators a short runway to complete system integration and staff training.

Why the EU says EES is necessary

EU institutions frame EES as a modernisation of border management: it replaces manual stamping, reduces identity fraud and provides authorities with real‑time information on compliance with the 90‑days‑in‑180‑days short‑stay rule. Officials highlight the system’s role in detecting overstayers and improving overall Schengen security.

As Denmark’s minister Rasmus Stoklund put it in Council communications: “We must do everything we can to prevent terrorists and irregular migrants from entering the Schengen Area… With an EU‑wide IT system, it will become easier to monitor who is crossing our borders.” That quote underlines the security and migration‑management framing used by member states.

Proponents also stress traveller benefits: fewer manual errors, faster future crossings once kiosks and processes are fully embedded, and clearer records that help travellers and authorities resolve disputes about permitted stay durations.

China’s visa‑free extensions and the tourism rebound

China announced an extension of its unilateral 30‑day visa‑exemption arrangements through 31 December 2026, with Sweden added to that list effective 10 November 2025. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated: “China will extend its unilateral visa‑exemption arrangements … to December 31, 2026.” This move is part of a broader reopening strategy.

Reporting distinguishes several overlapping schemes: a 30‑day unilateral visa‑free list covering roughly 40, 45 countries, 240‑hour transit schemes that apply to other nationalities, and additional staggered measures. Combined, these arrangements were reported by mid‑2025 to apply in some form to about 74, 75 nationalities.

Beijing and industry cite a strong tourism rebound: China’s National Immigration Administration reported more than 20 million foreign visitors entered China without a visa in 2024 , more than double the previous year , and operators say demand jumped sharply after relaxations. Tour operators reported big upticks (WildChina’s managing director said business was “up 50%” versus pre‑pandemic levels) and data showed inbound tourists from visa‑exempt countries rising about 2.5‑fold during holiday periods.

Operational pressures: queues, learning curves and airline impacts

Introducing EES at scale creates short‑term operational risks. Industry and av‑tech analyses warned of temporary processing delays and learning‑curve effects during initial deployment , longer queues at first deployment sites, kiosk roll‑out challenges and staff training needs.

These practical risks are why the EU opted for a phased deployment and transition windows for carrier queries: staggered rollout allows national authorities and carriers to pilot hardware and software, refine passenger flows, and reduce disruption during busy travel seasons.

Airlines and travel agents also face system‑integration work. They must register with eu‑LISA, adapt check‑in and booking systems to flag EES/ETIAS status, and ensure front‑line staff know when to deny boarding for missing pre‑travel authorisations or unresolved EES anomalies.

What travellers and travel businesses should do now

For travellers the essential steps are straightforward: expect biometric enrolment at first entry to the Schengen area, check whether your destination has EES kiosks in operation, and plan to obtain an ETIAS authorisation once ETIAS goes live in late 2026. Always verify passport validity and visa status before travel.

Travel agents and carriers should register with eu‑LISA, update booking and check‑in systems to integrate carrier queries, and ensure staff training covers EES procedures and reconciliation with passport stamping during the transition. Implementing regulations and eu‑LISA guidance spell out these operational obligations.

Operators serving China should also be ready for surges in demand driven by visa relaxations. Tour operators, airlines and hotels need flexible capacity plans, clear communications about visa rules for clients, and contingency plans for border and immigration delays on both continents.

Europe’s EES and China’s expanded visa‑free measures are not contradictory so much as complementary signals of a shifting travel era: Europe is tightening and digitising border management, while China is actively courting inbound tourism with easier entry rules. The net effect is more data at borders, new pre‑travel checks, and busier travel corridors that demand better coordination between carriers, authorities and travellers.

Whether you are a traveller planning a trip to Europe or China, an airline integrating new checks, or a tour operator adjusting product and staffing, the takeaway is the same: prepare for biometric enrolment, system checks and evolving pre‑travel authorisations, and watch the rollout timelines closely so you are not caught out at check‑in.