changed the way tourists get on and off

The measure has been active for a few weeks now and it is expected that the largest influx of visitors will be registered in the coming days.

12/24/2025 – 8:26 a.m

Planning a trip to Europe for an Argentine citizen has always been full of mysticism, from the choice of the itinerary to the symbolic moment of receiving the ink stamp in the passport upon landing on the old continent. However, this classic image of Physical sealing is slowly becoming a thing of the past. As part of an ambitious plan to modernize its borders, the European Union has… Structural changes in the way foreign tourists interact with immigration authorities, The goal is to streamline processes and increase security throughout the community space.

This new paradigm is a response to the need to more efficiently manage the enormous volume of travelers crossing European borders year after year. With the arrival of the holidays and the start of the summer holiday season in the southern hemisphere, thousands of Argentines are expected to face this new reality in airports and international terminals. Although the crossing is intended to be tourist friendly, it implies this Acquisition of new data and greater precision in control the permitted stay times.

The measure, which is already being implemented at most entry points, represents the end of an analog era and the beginning of a fully digitalized system. The goal is clear: reduce queues for manual checks and have a complete record of who enters and leaves the region. For the Argentine traveler who has enjoyed easy access in the past, it is important to know how this new system works Avoid delays or confusion at the time of immigration check-in.

Changes to entry and exit from Europe: what is the EES system and how does it work?

The fundamental change lies in the implementation of the Entry and Exit System (EES). It is an automated platform replaces manual sealing of passports through a central electronic register. Every time a citizen of a country that is not part of the European Union – such as Argentina – crosses an external border of the Schengen area, The system automatically registers your namethe type of travel document, your biometric data (facial images and fingerprints) and, above all, the exact dates and places of entry and exit.

One of the most critical functions of this system is the Strict monitoring of the 90 day rule. As is known, Argentinians can stay on European territory as tourists for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day moving period. Previously, control of this period depended on the visual inspection of the seals by an official; Now, EES calculates the length of stay automatically and will immediately detect so-called “overstayers” (those who exceed the permitted time), which will facilitate the application of sanctions or re-entry restrictions in the future.

It’s important to highlight this The implementation of this system is gradual. Although the official activation began on October 12, it is not 100% operational on all borders at the same time. There is one Transition phase that lasts until April 10, 2026. During this period of technological coexistence, it is possible that in some smaller airports or land border posts the traditional ink stamp will continue to be used, but the trend is towards the total disappearance of the physical mark on the document.

EES in Europe: biometric data and countries where it is already mandatory

For tourists, the process at the airport will now include an additional step in front of digital kiosks or automated terminals, similar to those that already exist in some modern airports in Argentina and the world. Fingerprints and a high-resolution photo are taken there for the facial scan. This data is encrypted and protected by European data protection regulations. They are used to verify the traveler’s identity during future check-ins, making subsequent trips much faster.

The new entry and exit system applies not only to the largest countries, but to the vast majority of nations that make up the free movement area. If you are planning a trip in the next few days, you should know that the EES already applies to the following destinations:

• The classics: Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Greece.
• Central and Northern Europe: Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
• Eastern Europe and the Baltics: Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
• New additions and others: Bulgaria, Romania, Iceland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Malta.

For the Argentine tourist with proper documents, this change is ultimately an advantage. The digitized process promises to dramatically reduce waiting times in the immigration cabin, which is often a stressful factor after flights of more than 12 hours. Additionally, the system provides an additional layer of security against identity forgery and document theft, ensuring travel history is accurate and transparent to European authorities.