New border checks for non-Schengen citizens starting tomorrow

Croatia will introduce a new border control system for citizens of countries outside the Schengen area starting Sunday, October 12, which could cause congestion at the borders with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

This is the start of work of the Entry/Exit System (EES) of the European Union, which digitally records data on border crossings by citizens of so-called third countries and replaces the previous passports with stamps.

The EES electronically records the time and place of entry and exit of passengers with a short-term stay permit, calculates the remaining permitted stay and collects biometric data: a facial photograph and four fingerprints of the right hand.

Children under the age of 12 are exempt from fingerprinting. On subsequent arrivals, identity is confirmed by comparing the existing photo from the system with the image from the travel document, which speeds up the control, pointed out the Ministry of the Interior.

The system will be applied at all international border crossings, including those temporarily designated for international traffic under the agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Gradual implementation at border crossings

Initially, registration in the EES will be available for a minimum of four hours a day, gradually extending to 24-hour application over six months.

Special EES lanes will be designated for third-country travelers, but during times of greater congestion the system will operate on all lanes.

In addition to the EES, Croatia is also introducing a National Facilitation Programe (NPO) for third-country travelers who cross the border frequently and do not pose a security risk.

NPO participants will be able to pass through faster because no new biometric scanning will be performed upon re-entry. The system will compare the photo from the travel document with the one already stored in the EES.

Self-service kiosks at airports

At the airports in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, Zadar and Rijeka, EES kiosks will also be available for passengers entering the Schengen area for the first time and who do not yet have an EES file.

The procedure includes scanning a travel document, taking facial and fingerprint biometrics, and a short questionnaire, with support in 15 languages.

The introduction of EES will likely extend the duration of controls at road crossings, especially for passengers entering the system for the first time and having to get out of their vehicles to create an EES file and verify their identity.

However, the Ministry of the Interior expects that the wait will decrease once the system becomes routine and a larger number of passengers receive personal EES files.

Source: HRT