BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Union (EU) will begin electronically recording entry and exit data for non-EU nationals travelling to 29 European countries from October 12, marking the end of traditional passport stamping.
The new Entry/Exit System (EES) will require visitors to provide fingerprints and facial scans at border checkpoints during their first entry, creating a digital record of their travels.
The system will log entry and exit dates, monitor the length of stay, and replace the manual stamping method that has been prone to inefficiency and fraud.
“The EES aims to enhance border security, speed up controls, and prevent overstays,” the EU delegation in Kenya said in a statement on Saturday.
Travellers will be processed at self-service kiosks or designated counters, where their biometric data will be collected and verified against existing databases before meeting a border official.
While commemorative stamps may still be available at some airports, official passport stamps will be phased out ahead of full implementation by April 2026.
The new system applies to tourists, professionals, and short-term visitors who previously only required a passport stamp. EU citizens, long-term residents, and some visa categories remain exempt.
The rollout of EES is part of a broader digital transformation of Europe’s border security.
By the end of 2025, it will be followed by the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will require pre-travel authorisation for visitors from visa-exempt countries, including the UK and US.
Despite potential initial challenges for travellers, the EU says the shift to biometric border control is a necessary step toward a more secure and efficient travel framework.
