The European Union is set to phase out passport stamping for non-EU travelers, replacing it with a new digital border management system known as the Entry/Exit System (EES).

Starting October 12, the system will begin a gradual rollout across the 29 countries of the Schengen area – including 25 EU member states, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

Ireland and Cyprus, which are EU members but are not part of the Schengen area, will continue manual passport checks.

Under the new system, non-EU visitors entering or leaving the Schengen area will have their facial images, fingerprints and travel details recorded electronically instead of receiving a physical passport stamp. According to the European Commission, the EES will make border checks faster and more efficient while strengthening security by helping track overstays and irregular migration.

Travelers will be required to register on arrival by answering standard border questions, creating a record valid for three years. Once enrolled, re-entry will require only biometric verification.

The European Union expects the system to be fully operational by April 2026, with initial delays likely as border officers and travelers adapt to the technology.

The EES is one of two major new EU border initiatives. A second system, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will require non-EU visitors to obtain online pre-travel authorization, is due to follow after the EES becomes fully functional.

Source: Ekathimerini.com