Europe Is Replacing Passport Stamps With Fingerprint and Face Scans-Here's What Travelers Should Know

"Travelers will soon be required to provide a fingerprint or face scan for entry to dozens of popular countries like France and Spain. Starting Oct. 12, Europe's new Entry and Exit System (EES) will begin rolling out at airports and border crossings as part of a "progressive start" to slowly test and expand the technology, according to the European Union. The full implementation will not take effect until April 10, 2026."

"In anticipation of the new procedure, the U.S. Department of State warned American travelers in a post on X to "expect new automated border checks and to have their biodata digitally collected upon arrival and departure." The scanning of biometric data isn't the only major change under the EES system. In addition, the procedure will slowly remove the ritual of collecting stamps in a passport book, a popular souvenir among travelers."

""The EES will gradually replace passport stamps with a digital system that records when travellers enter and exit, making border checks faster and helping staff to work more efficiently," the European Union noted. "With EES, travellers will spend less time at the border thanks to faster checks, self-service options, and the possibility to give their information in advance." The EES system was first announced in 2023 with plans to originally"

Europe will roll out the Entry and Exit System (EES) starting Oct. 12 with full implementation by April 10, 2026. The EES will be required in 29 countries including EU members and Schengen states and applies to all non-EU nationals on short stays; children under 12 will not have fingerprints scanned. The system collects biometric data—fingerprints or face scans—and stores personal files for about three years, with the EU stating data will not be transferred to third parties. The EES aims to modernize borders, reduce identity fraud, identify visa overstays, and speed border checks by replacing passport stamps with digital records.

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