The European Union has abolished passport stamping at airports and border checkpoints for foreign nationals, replacing it with a biometric system under the new European Entry/Exit System (EES).
The system came into effect on October 12 across 25 EU countries and four non-EU countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. EU member states Ireland and Cyprus will not implement the EES and will continue stamping passports.
Citizens of non-EU countries entering the participating nations must now register biometric information including photographs and fingerprints under the EES. Entry and exit dates will be recorded digitally rather than through manual passport stamps. The system applies to short-stay visitors staying up to 90 days.
The change is designed to allow travelers to enter and exit more quickly without waiting in long queues at airports. The EU found the old method of manually stamping passports was time-consuming and inconvenient for both travelers and border officials.
The digital system aims to modernize external border management, prevent illegal immigration, combat identity fraud and monitor whether visa-free travelers comply with stay duration rules.
First-time arrivals must have their passports scanned, fingerprints registered and undergo facial scanning. Their details are checked against the EES database to confirm compliance with travel regulations. For subsequent journeys, only facial biometric verification is required.
Children under 12 must also register with the EES and have their photograph taken. There is no charge for EES registration.
The European Union plans to fully implement the system, which is being rolled out in phases at all EU borders, by April 2026.