ZAGREB, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Croatia on Sunday began implementing the European Union's (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border management system for non-EU travelers entering or leaving the Schengen Area, Croatian media reported.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, cited by Croatia Week, non-EU nationals will be required to provide biometric data - including fingerprints and a facial photograph - in addition to their passport upon first entry into Croatia or any Schengen country. The data will be securely stored for future crossings.
Instead of border officers stamping passports, the EES will automatically record each traveler's personal details, passport information, and entry and exit times. It will also log any refusals of entry into Croatia or the wider Schengen Area.
For subsequent entries, travelers' identities will be verified by comparing a live facial image with their stored biometric profile, making the process faster and more secure. The system does not apply to EU citizens, including Croatians, who will continue to cross borders using a passport or national ID card without submitting biometric data.
The new system will be introduced gradually across all of Croatia's international border crossings, in line with the EU-wide rollout, and is expected to become fully operational by April 10 next year, the report said. ■