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Starting from April 10, 2026, Albanian citizens traveling to Schengen countries will face new border procedures, following the full operation of the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces manual stamping of passports with electronic registration of entries and exits.
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs announces that the system will be applied to all citizens traveling for short-term stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, while on the first entry after this date, citizens will have to register their passport data, facial photograph and fingerprints at the border crossing point.
Authorities warn that refusal to provide biometric data will result in refusal of entry into the Schengen area, while delays are expected at airports, ports and land border crossings in the initial phase of implementation due to the new procedures. For this reason, citizens are advised to report for travel early and plan extra time for border checks.
The ministry emphasizes that the passport must be valid and in good physical condition, while registration in the system does not require prior application as it is carried out at the moment of crossing the border. Also, the new system does not change the existing rule of stay in the Schengen area, maintaining the maximum limit of 90 days in any 180-day period.
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs calls on Albanian citizens to be informed in advance about the new procedures and to organize their travels taking into account the additional time that may be required during border controls, while the full implementation of the EES is considered a step towards increasing security and modernizing control at the borders of the European Union.
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