The upcoming international journey to Europe for you might not include an official stamp in your passport indicating the specific nation or nations you have traveled to.
Beginning on October 12, 29 European nations will start implementing a new Entry/Exit System (EES) instead of conventional passport stickers, aiming for full functionality by April 10, 2026.
This electronic system aims to speed up and enhance customs inspections by tracking the arrival and departure of non-EU visitors through biometric information such as fingerprints and face scanning.
The 29 nations participating are members of the
Schengen Area
a region in Europe where most internal border checks have been removed, facilitating the unrestricted travel of individuals between participating nations. The Schengen Zone now comprises 25 European Union members along with four additional non-EU countries.
While travellers have historically moved between these countries with minimal passport checks, the EES will streamline the process further by providing self-service options and enabling travelers to submit their information ahead of time, cutting down time spent at border crossings.
Biometric details gathered can further assist authorities in recognizing people who remain beyond their permitted stay, employ fake identities, or exploit visa-exempt travel. Customs officers and police will be able to view this data to more effectively handle security threats.
Here is the complete list of 29 nations that will begin removing passport stamps starting October 12 with the implementation of the new EES system:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
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