Skopje, 10 April 2026 (MIA) – The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes fully operational on Friday by registering all nationals crossing EU’s external border crossing points, including land borders, ports or airports.

Introduced gradually since October 12, 2025, a new, digitized way of registering non-EU nationals entering the bloc for short stays is being put into operation.

According to the Interior Ministry, all available resources have been at disposal for swift and uninterrupted flow of passengers at the country’s border crossings. The Makamtrans Association of Transporters has said it doesn’t expect delays and bottlenecks at borders for freight transport.

With EES becoming fully operational today, entries and exits will be recorded electronically and the system will process basic biometric data (fingerprints and photos). It aims at quicker identification and more effective monitoring of the allowed stay in line with the rule of 90 days within a 180-day period. It would increase wait times at EU borders.

The country’s border police, said the Interior Ministry, have taken all the necessary measures and activities so as to secure swift and uninterrupted flow of passengers at our border crossings.

“The border police will be actively engaged on the ground to monitor the situation and take adequate measures to maintain traffic flow and inform citizens of all important information related to the implementation of the system,” said the Ministry.

Since the EES has been introduced at the borders of the Schengen Zone last year, a majority of professional truckers have been already registered, Makamtrans president Biljana Muratovska said adding no major delays or bottlenecks are expected at borders for freight transport than the usual ones, which isn’t the case with the flow of passengers and passenger vehicles.

“Professional truckers and employees in transport companies have been advised to monitor and count days of stay in the last 180 days, with proper organization of appropriate dynamics for the safe use of means of transport, in order to avoid problems and delays in the territory of the Schengen zone,” said Muratovska.

As of April 10, she said, a combined counting of days of stay will begin, especially for professional truckers, which means that until the expiration of 180 days (October 10), data from the electronic system will be used, but the stamps recorded in travel documents will also be counted until it is possible to obtain work visas from certain countries, which will overcome the problems until the definitive adoption of the new Visa Strategy, where drivers are recognized as professionals.

MIA file photo