The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) announced on 22 October 2025 that it has started active supervision of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which went live on 12 October. The watchdog will monitor how member-state authorities collect and store the biometric and biographic data of third-country travellers during the six-month phased roll-out.
Czech border-police officials told the media they have already processed more than 18,000 non-EU passengers through the self-service kiosks at Prague, Brno and Ostrava airports. Average processing time is running at 90 seconds per traveller—twice the target—because many first-time users need assistance capturing fingerprints. Authorities expect throughput to improve as repeat visitors return and the biometric templates stored in the central EES database are re-used.
The EDPS reminded airports that data minimisation and kiosk privacy shields are mandatory; violations could trigger audits and fines. Prague Airport has erected additional privacy screens after business-traveller groups complained that shoulder-surfing was possible in the initial layout.
Travel-management companies are advising multinational clients to brief employees on the new procedure and to budget extra time, especially when connecting from long-haul flights in Terminal 1. Carriers have begun sending pre-departure emails explaining the kiosk step to reduce bottlenecks at peak times.
Full operational readiness across all Schengen external borders is scheduled for 10 April 2026. The Czech Interior Ministry says it will publish monthly performance dashboards so companies can plan accordingly.
Czech border-police officials told the media they have already processed more than 18,000 non-EU passengers through the self-service kiosks at Prague, Brno and Ostrava airports. Average processing time is running at 90 seconds per traveller—twice the target—because many first-time users need assistance capturing fingerprints. Authorities expect throughput to improve as repeat visitors return and the biometric templates stored in the central EES database are re-used.
The EDPS reminded airports that data minimisation and kiosk privacy shields are mandatory; violations could trigger audits and fines. Prague Airport has erected additional privacy screens after business-traveller groups complained that shoulder-surfing was possible in the initial layout.
Travel-management companies are advising multinational clients to brief employees on the new procedure and to budget extra time, especially when connecting from long-haul flights in Terminal 1. Carriers have begun sending pre-departure emails explaining the kiosk step to reduce bottlenecks at peak times.
Full operational readiness across all Schengen external borders is scheduled for 10 April 2026. The Czech Interior Ministry says it will publish monthly performance dashboards so companies can plan accordingly.
