EU border crossing rules for Ukrainians change in October: what you need to know
5 September 01:55
Starting October 12, 2025, Ukrainians will face new rules for traveling to the European Union. The main change is the mandatory biometric check when crossing the border. This was reported by the press service of the Embassy of Ukraine in Poland, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
What will change?
The EU is introducing the Entry/Exit System (EES ), an automated database that will record all crossings of the EU’s external borders by third-country nationals, including Ukrainians.
The system will replace traditional passport stamps with digital registration and will apply to short-term travel (up to 90 days within any 180-day period).
What data will be collected?
- a photo of the face
- four fingerprints (for persons over 12 years old);
- passport details;
- date and place of entry/exit;
- cases of refusal of entry.
How will the system work in practice?
- passengers will have to get out of the vehicle to undergo biometrics;
- at railway checkpoints, the procedure may vary depending on the location;
- refusal to provide biometric data will be a legal ground for refusal of entry.
Why is the EES being introduced?
- control over compliance with the terms of stay in the EU;
- preventing the use of forged documents;
- improving security in the Schengen area.
As a reminder, in August 2025, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 22 were allowed to travel abroad, but not everyone was able to take advantage of this opportunity due to a number of restrictions.
