EU Launches Shared Biometric Database Ahead of EES Rollout
Sep 2, 2025
Category: Border and Security EES EU News
The European Union (EU) has launched the Shared Biometric Matching System (sBMS). This large-scale database stores and checks fingerprints and facial images to confirm people’s identities at its borders.
Built by Idemia Public Security and Sopra Steria with support from eu-LISA—the EU agency responsible for managing large IT systems for justice and security—the system went live on August 25, 2025.
The sBMS will serve as the primary biometric hub, linking with tools such as the Visa Information System (VIS) and supporting the new European Entry/Exit System (EES), which is scheduled to roll out between mid-October 2025 and mid-April 2026.
A new central system for biometric data
The sBMS brings together biometric checks from several EU databases. It stores and matches fingerprints and facial images to confirm a person’s identity.
Eu-LISA stated that the system assists border and migration authorities in verifying the identities of individuals from outside the EU when they enter Europe for the first time, ensuring they are who they claim to be at checkpoints.
By linking data across connected systems, the EU aims to detect irregular migration and cross-border crime more effectively. National authorities can quickly search biometric records in the central database, rather than relying on scattered local systems.
The sBMS launched together with an update to the VIS, which supports the EU’s visa policy and border checks.
VIS will link with sBMS under the broader interoperability framework, which also includes the Schengen Information System (SIS) and Eurodac, the EU’s fingerprint database for asylum seekers.
Preparing for the EES
A significant role of the sBMS will be its connection to the EES, a new database set to roll out in the coming months.
The EES will log every crossing by travelers from outside the EU at Schengen borders, recording both their personal details and biometric data. Fingerprints and facial images will be used to confirm identities and track overstays.
When fully integrated with other systems, the sBMS will rank among the largest biometric databases in the world, capable of processing hundreds of millions of records. Eu-LISA called it a cornerstone of Europe’s digital border management strategy.
Role of industry partners
Idemia Public Security, part of the Idemia Group, was chosen in 2020 to design and build the sBMS. The company develops biometric technology used to verify identities in sensitive areas, such as border control and transportation.
Idemia stated that its algorithms were chosen for their robust performance in both face and fingerprint recognition.
Tim Ferris, Senior Vice President for Travel and Transport at Idemia Public Security, said the project highlights the company’s experience in supporting secure passenger travel.
“With our work to design and implement the sBMS, Europe will manage one of the largest biometric systems in the world,” Ferris stated. “This is another example of how Idemia’s technology can make the world a safer place, and we’re proud to play a critical role in this journey.”
Sopra Steria, a European digital services company with over 50,000 staff in nearly 30 countries, worked alongside Idemia, providing integration and IT services.
Michel Lorgéré, Deputy CEO of Sopra Steria Belgium, described the go-live as “a significant milestone in the realization of the EU’s Interoperability Architecture, reinforcing our joint commitment to enhancing security and operational efficiency across Europe.”
eu-LISA’s Oversight
The sBMS is managed by eu-LISA, the EU agency based in Tallinn, Estonia, that runs systems for borders, asylum, and migration.
Eu-LISA handles the technical operations of databases such as VIS, SIS, and Eurodac, ensuring they can work together effectively.
In May 2025, the agency confirmed the sBMS was ready to launch after nearly five years of development since the contract was awarded.
Security and data concerns
Although the system is promoted as a significant step forward, it has also raised concerns about data security.
In 2024, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) cited Sopra Steria, one of the contractors, for “numerous high-severity security vulnerabilities” in the SIS.
The EDPS has repeatedly called for strong protections when handling biometric information, which EU law classifies as sensitive personal data.
The full audit results have not been released, but worries about security weaknesses continue to shape public debate as the sBMS goes live.
Changing procedures for travelers, migrants
The new sBMS will change how borders are managed for people entering the Schengen Area.
Short-term visitors, including tourists and business travelers, will have their fingerprints and facial images taken and checked against the system upon their first entry. This will link to the VIS and later to the EES.
Together, these systems will replace manual passport stamps with biometric records, speeding up border checks while enforcing stay limits.
Long-term residents and migrants will also face stricter checks. Their biometric data will be stored in the central system and used to confirm their identity during visa renewals, residency applications, and re-entry at external borders.
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will soon be required for visa-exempt travelers, will add an additional layer by requiring digital approval prior to arrival.
Authorities will compare ETIAS applications with sBMS records to spot overstays or false documents.
Strengthening borders through biometrics
The sBMS is now active, connecting fingerprints and facial data with systems like the Visa Information System and the soon-to-launch EES. This change makes border checks faster and more reliable while strengthening controls across the Schengen Area.
The project marks the EU’s shift toward deeper use of biometric technology in daily border management. As one of the world’s largest databases of its kind, it will play a key role in how Europe handles arrivals and enforces migration rules.
For travelers, workers, and migrants, these checks are no longer a plan on paper. They are now part of the travel process.