End of Passport Stamps as Digital Records Take Over
Beginning October 12, 2025, the European Union will introduce the Entry/Exit System (EES), a new border management program that will change how foreign travelers are processed. U.S. visitors, along with other non-EU nationals, will no longer receive inked passport stamps. Instead, their entry will be recorded electronically, with travelers required to provide a facial image and four fingerprint scans upon arrival at airports, ferry docks, and land crossings.
Travelers Covered by the Program
The initiative applies to short-stay visitors from outside the EU, including Americans who do not need visas for travel. Biometric information will be taken during the first crossing and stored for later use, allowing repeat entries to be verified more quickly. Children younger than 12 are not required to give fingerprints, and exceptions will be made for individuals unable to complete scans due to health limitations.
Rollout Concerns and Data Safeguards
EU leaders describe the system as a tool to enhance border security and identify those who exceed permitted stay limits. Still, airports and other border points are preparing for possible bottlenecks when the new process is introduced. Privacy advocates are also questioning how biometric records will be managed, particularly the length of time they will be stored and the protections in place to prevent misuse under European data laws.
