Goodbye Passport Stamps: What the EU’s New Entry System Means for Travelers

The traditional passport stamp continues its slow decline. In the latest move away from physical stamping, the European Union launched on October 12 a new “Entry and Exit System,” known as EES, at airports to streamline the process for travelers staying in the EU for 90 days or less. The system is designed to help EU officials digitally track entries and exits and streamlining data collection. ensuring travelers aren’t abusing the “90 days out of 180” policy for staying in the Schengen area.

EES is designed for non‑EU nationals making short stays in the Schengen area (that is, most EU members except Ireland and Cyprus, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). The system digitizes what was formerly a manual passport‑stamping process: instead of inked stamps, travelers’ entry and exit data—including passport details, travel dates, facial images, and fingerprints—are recorded electronically. On first crossing after EES is active, biometric registration is necessary; for subsequent trips (within three years or when using the same passport), only identity verification is required. In short, you’re going to have to submit to finger printing and face scanning to enter the Schengen area.

However, several categories are exempt: EU citizens, holders of long‑stay visas or residence permits, children under age 12 (for whom fingerprinting is waived), and certain diplomatic or special‑status travelers. All countries in the program are expected to be onboarded by April, with expansion to seaports and other points of entry beyond international airports coming as well. Travelers who don’t meet the requirements of entry — say, those who have spent more than 90 days out of the past 180 in the European Union — will be denied entry at the border. How this plays out for crafty travelers with multiple passports is yet to be seen – or tested.

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