NEW RULES FOR SCHENGEN ENTRY STARTING NEXT WEEK: Here’s What Awaits Serbian Citizens at Border Crossings!

What awaits our citizens as early as next week and how can they best prepare for the new rules?

Starting October 12, entry into the European Union will no longer be the same, as citizens of Serbia and all other non-Schengen countries will face a completely new Entry/Exit System – EES.

Biometrics, digital records, strict control of the 90-day stay – all of this means more security, but also more questions for our travelers, writes B92.net.

Will crossing the border take longer, who will have to give fingerprints, and what will happen to those who work and live in the EU?

What We Know About the New Border Crossing System?

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia issued an official statement regarding the implementation of the new border crossing method.

The Republic of Serbia borders four countries that are members of the European Union, and the implementation of the EES system will also apply to citizens of the Republic of Serbia when entering the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.

In the initial phase, the system will be activated at certain border crossings and with limited working hours—i.e., selectively.

At Which Border Crossings Does Implementation Begin?

In the Republic of Croatia, implementation begins at the Batrovci – Bajakovo crossing and at Zagreb Airport.

In the Republic of Bulgaria, at the Gradina – Kalotina crossing.

In Romania, at the Kaluđerovo – Najdaš crossing.

In Hungary, the system will be introduced in phases from October 28 to November 11, 2025, at the Tompa, Horgoš, Bački Vinogradi, Bačalmaš, Bački Breg, Rabe-Kibekhaza, and other crossings.

For individuals who do not have regulated residency but perform certain jobs in Hungarian territory and cross the border daily, registration begins on November 1, 2025.

What Does This Mean for Serbian Citizens Entering the EU?

Only upon the first entry into a country implementing the EES will border control include taking four fingerprints, a face photograph, and entering personal and travel data into the system.

Minors older than 12 years are subject to registration, while those younger than 12 will not be recorded.

In the period from October 12, 2025, to April 10, 2026, passports will still be stamped for all travelers, regardless of whether an EES file has been created.

The Ministry appeals to citizens to account for possible longer delays at border crossings during the initial phase of the system’s implementation when planning their trips, and to inform themselves in a timely manner about the conditions at specific crossings.

What is the EES System?

The EES system will not yet charge any fees.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will be gradually introduced at the external borders of 29 European countries over a six-month period. These European countries will introduce different components of the EES in phases, including the collection of biometric data, such as a face photograph and fingerprints.

If you refuse to provide your biometric data, you will be denied entry to the territory of the European countries using the EES.

You can find everything about this system, which awaits us in certain countries this autumn, in a separate article at this link.

What is ETIAS and When Does It Start?

ETIAS represents a set of protocols that are a condition for entry into the EU for third-country nationals who are exempt from the EU visa requirement.

It is part of the EU’s new IT architecture aimed at strengthening security within the Union while simultaneously facilitating travel for non-EU citizens. When the regulation was adopted, a fee of 7 euros was prescribed.

Implementation has been postponed multiple times, but the European Commission has announced that ETIAS should enter into force in the last four months of next year, and additionally, the fee has been increased.

As stated by the EC, taking into account the rise in inflation since 2018, as well as additional operational costs related to new technical functionalities of the system, for example, the fee will be adjusted and will amount to 20 euros per application, valid for three years.