Doha: Qatar Airways has issued a travel advisory for passengers flying to Europe, warning of a new border control system set to take effect from October 12, 2025. The update concerns the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which will impact non-EU travelers entering or exiting Schengen countries.

In its official statement, the airline said, “Please be advised that, effective 12 October 2025, the European Union will gradually introduce a new Entry/Exit System (EES). This change will apply to non-Schengen nationals’ entry and exit procedures at Schengen Area borders.” The national carrier urged travelers to stay informed about the new requirements and visit the official EU website to check how the changes might affect their journey.

The new system will replace manual passport stamping with a digital process that records biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images at entry and exit points. It will apply to non-EU nationals visiting the Schengen Area for short stays, excluding Cyprus and Ireland.

Qatar Airways advised passengers to allow extra time during their travel to accommodate the new procedures, as the system is expected to increase processing times at European border control points during the initial rollout phase.