The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) quietly reached another milestone on 8 November when Hungarian authorities activated the platform at all checkpoints with Ukraine. Travellers now provide fingerprints and face scans instead of passport stamps, with data fed into a cloud-based database that automatically counts Schengen days.
By contrast, Poland—originally slated to be among the first movers—has yet to complete final software integration at its eastern frontier. Warsaw’s Border Guard insists it is "fully ready", citing successful tests at Chopin Airport in October, but officials acknowledge that full roll-out on land borders may slip to December pending additional staff training.
![EU Entry/Exit System goes live at Hungary-Ukraine crossings—Polish border still in transition]()
The divergence creates a two-speed reality for Ukrainians heading west: crossings into Hungary now take longer on first entry but guarantee automated tracking thereafter, while Polish posts still rely on manual stamps that can be prone to error. Business travellers commuting to Rzeszów’s defence-tech cluster are advised to carry proof of previous exits in case of disputes.
Industry groups say the lag could push some passenger and bus traffic south via Záhony-Chop, potentially straining Hungary’s capacity and depriving Polish service stations and malls of cross-border spending. Polish tour operators worry that a December "big-bang" switch-over during Christmas peak travel could backfire without staggered implementation.
The Interior Ministry maintains that once operational, EES will cut average control times by 40 %, curb overstays and pave the way for next year’s ETIAS pre-travel authorisation. Until then, companies should remind assignees that the Schengen 90/180-day rule is already strictly enforced and that overstays—even if accidental—carry fines and future-visa risks.
By contrast, Poland—originally slated to be among the first movers—has yet to complete final software integration at its eastern frontier. Warsaw’s Border Guard insists it is "fully ready", citing successful tests at Chopin Airport in October, but officials acknowledge that full roll-out on land borders may slip to December pending additional staff training.
The divergence creates a two-speed reality for Ukrainians heading west: crossings into Hungary now take longer on first entry but guarantee automated tracking thereafter, while Polish posts still rely on manual stamps that can be prone to error. Business travellers commuting to Rzeszów’s defence-tech cluster are advised to carry proof of previous exits in case of disputes.
Industry groups say the lag could push some passenger and bus traffic south via Záhony-Chop, potentially straining Hungary’s capacity and depriving Polish service stations and malls of cross-border spending. Polish tour operators worry that a December "big-bang" switch-over during Christmas peak travel could backfire without staggered implementation.
The Interior Ministry maintains that once operational, EES will cut average control times by 40 %, curb overstays and pave the way for next year’s ETIAS pre-travel authorisation. Until then, companies should remind assignees that the Schengen 90/180-day rule is already strictly enforced and that overstays—even if accidental—carry fines and future-visa risks.
