The European Union is working toward changing its entry process for foreigners, and I imagine people will have mixed feelings about this. It’s a big day on that front, as this new system is progressively being rolled out as of today.
In this post:
European Union replacing passport stamps with biometrics
The European Union plans to gradually introduce its new electronic Entry/Exit System (EES) for foreign visitors. This will start to be rolled out as of October 12, 2025 (today), and the expectation is that it will be fully operational by April 10, 2026. With this development, visitors from most countries will no longer get their passports stamped.
Instead, under the new system, foreign visitors entering the European Union will have their fingerprints and face scanned digitally upon entry. That biometric data will then be used to confirm a visitor’s entry and exit from the European Union.
To use this system, travelers will need a biometric passport. These have been issued in the United States since 2007, so at this point, everyone in the United States with a passport should have one. Visitors who don’t have a biometric passport will have to go through a longer process, and won’t be able to use self-service passport control lanes.
As the European Union’s commissioner for home affairs describes this:
“At every single airport, every single harbor, every single road into Europe. We will have digital border controls. When that happens, it will be goodbye to passport stamping, hello to digital checks.”
Note that this development is separate from the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is expected to be implemented as of April 2026 (though may be delayed again). Once this is introduced, up to 1.4 billion people from 60+ visa waiver countries will need to obtain a travel authorization prior to traveling to the European Union.
This is a common sense development
Passport stamps are kind of a funny thing, and the idiom “too much of a good thing is a bad thing” comes to mind. Some people get really excited by passport stamps, because of course they can be a fun memory of the places you’ve traveled to. However, for frequent travelers, these stamps can become a pain, since your passport can fill up pretty quickly, requiring you to get a new one.
The novelty of passport stamps aside, using biometric data and making the system electronic is just generally a smart move in terms of border security. Also, this new system should increasingly allow travelers to use automatic gates for entering countries, which is a positive development as well.
Bottom line
The European Union is implementing a new electronic system for entering and leaving the region. With this, we’ll see biometric data required from travelers, rather than reliance on passport pictures and stamps. This is now being gradually introduced as of October 12, 2025 (today), and the expectation is that the rollout will be completed by April 10, 2026.
Separate from this, next year we should see a new travel authorization requirement introduced in the European Union, for those arriving from many countries.
What do you make of the EU phasing out passport stamps, and switching to biometric data?
Bad news those who say they'll opt out:
"What happens if you refuse to have your fingerprints scanned or a photo of your face taken?
If you refuse to provide your biometric data, you will be denied entry into the territory of the European countries using the EES."
"Note that this development is separate from the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is expected to be implemented as of April 2026 (though may be delayed again)." Thevtarget has always been 6 months after EES completion and stands at 4Q od 2026 according to official websites.
I presume EES will not apply to transit passengers, does anyone know?
I couldn't find an official quote on line. But, it applies to people entering Schengen, and international transit isn't entering. Plus, I cannot imagine how they could do that. Arrive at, say, CDG, and you're suddenly in a throng of pax, departing internationally from Paris, arriving in Paris, transferring to a Schengen flight, and connecting internationally.
I travel a lot. I literally do not have any stamps in my U.S. passport. Same with my Italian passport except I do have 1 stamp in my Italian passport. I flew US to Dublin. The guy looked at me. Looked at my passport. Stamp said “3 day visit may not seek employment”. So much for fellow EU member. But, the reality is you enter in a line in Italy. Scan passport. Scan eyes. Door opens you are in. Same with USA if you have global entry Passports are phasing out
Live? I’d call it soft launch. lol. For example Spain is only going to have one flight in Madrid doing it.
Let’s see how many issues there are. Britains being warned of 4-hour queues. This has been a disaster from the start.
Only problem is the automatic passport gates are buggy and often don't work well.
Is it possible to still get a stamp after the biometric scan?
Trump should threaten huge tariffs unless the EU allows stamping upon passenger request. We want our passport stamps!
Still curious how this is being phased in. If I enter the EU at a port with biometrics but then leave from one that isn’t implemented yet and wants to see an entry stamp, then what?
My best guess is they still stamp on entry until next April - similar to how some EU airports give an exit stamp after going through self service gates at departure. Just a quick stamp as you walk by
All the EU/Schengen area countries already log everyone crossing borders in their digital systems. They don't need to check for stamps really to confirm your entry/exit, as soon as they scan your passport they see all of your entry/exit in their computer for a while now.
Until this new system is (fully) deployed the different ports do not communicate with each other, at least ports in different countries don’t.
Last year, I entered in France and while departing from LH F terminal at FRA I was delayed because they couldn’t find my entry stamp. It was there, but I had to ask them to give me my passport back to look for it, found it, showed them, then they were relieved...
Until this new system is (fully) deployed the different ports do not communicate with each other, at least ports in different countries don’t.
Last year, I entered in France and while departing from LH F terminal at FRA I was delayed because they couldn’t find my entry stamp. It was there, but I had to ask them to give me my passport back to look for it, found it, showed them, then they were relieved stamped my passport and good to go. So there wasn’t a computer showing I had entered a week earlier or that wouldn’t have been a problem.
Most exits they don’t look super close in my experience (at least with an American passport and dozens of EU stamps) but I think the stamps are still critical as of now.
They won’t want to see an entry stamp. It will be recorded on their system. The agent scans your passport on exit and looks on the system. That is what the new biometrics system does—records the entry and exit. But will stamp you out because the old system doesn’t record it.
That’s why it has been so delayed. Ensuring that all member states’ systems are updated.
Just to remind our American friends, the EU is not a country (France isn't Texas). It's not the EU which is rolling out EES, it's the member countries of the EU and the Schengen Area
I love when people try to use silly little semantics that have very little impact to 99% of travelers to put down Americans
Border security can be improved just by keeping the undesirables from certain countries out. That means no entry for most foreigners period, and entry only from select countries with law abiding citizens. No amount of face scanning is going to fix the problems that foreigners from many low-life countries create and the crime they commit once let into a civilized country. It's common sense, but liberals just don't want to accept it. Instead, they want...
Border security can be improved just by keeping the undesirables from certain countries out. That means no entry for most foreigners period, and entry only from select countries with law abiding citizens. No amount of face scanning is going to fix the problems that foreigners from many low-life countries create and the crime they commit once let into a civilized country. It's common sense, but liberals just don't want to accept it. Instead, they want to usher in a police state which burdens the lives of lawful citizens.
This is not common sense at all. No entry for most foreigners? Really? Not for holidays or business? And how do you judge “select countries with law abiding citizens”? Most countries citizens are law abiding. Some citizens from all countries are not law abiding. How are you going to decide those “select countries” then. What’s a “civilized country”? And since when did “liberals” want a police state. This all just feels like a lot of nonsense.
Well, if you feel so strongly about this, talk to orangeman and ask him to find out how his besty Putin handles it.
Oh, what about low-life Americans? Shouldn't the EU be able to keep out low life Americans?
Although we will eventually use a digital (on device on biometrical accessed ID), I hope this allows the interim step of international travel with a passport card!
Passport card carries or links to the same information as the passport. Passport format allows for stamps and observance of legacy.
Some of the ‘banter’ below about the merits, etc, of passport stamps is clearly ’hog-wash’. Suggesting woke racism even.
For decades many of us were never disadvantaged for having a ‘clean’ passport. Quite the opposite in fact. Travelling between unfriendly nations would have been extremely dangerous if one’s passport contained the wrong stamp.
Flew into Rome this morning with an 8am arrival. No EES. Was kinda freaking out about delays but it was standard customs.
As a USA passport holder, I hope I do have the option to opt out of the electronic process even if it will mean more time via a manual process. These electronic processes are becoming too privacy invasive.
You are aware the US are doing the same thing, right?
It is optional for US citizens at the US border, mandatory for non-US citizens.
Similarly, it is mandatory for non-EU citizens. There's no current ability to opt out, at least not that I can see.
They know who you are anyway. There's no privacy advantage to getting a stamp. Those days are long over. They basically disappeared once everybody had a machine-readable passport.
Sure you can opt out. Don’t travel to the country. It’s a condition of entry!!
You give most of these details when you check in for a flight as part of Advanced Passport Checks.
This comment is like saying… “I hope I can opt out of telling the border agent who I am I want my privacy “
Eventually, biometrics will replace passports.
After that, a chip will be placed behind your ear or the back of your neck like a dog or cat. Just like the highway scanners that pick up your toll tag, immigration will have lanes that you walk thru with "go" or "no go" signs.
To identify your sex like a neutered pet, the right ear will be clipped if you identify male and left ear if...
Eventually, biometrics will replace passports.
After that, a chip will be placed behind your ear or the back of your neck like a dog or cat. Just like the highway scanners that pick up your toll tag, immigration will have lanes that you walk thru with "go" or "no go" signs.
To identify your sex like a neutered pet, the right ear will be clipped if you identify male and left ear if you identify female and both if you're confused.
All of the above craziness to justify the billions government spend on AI.
What a lot of twaddle.
Fair enough, but passport stamps are a ritual I enjoy and will miss. At least Ireland still gives out beautiful green stamps.
One is not ‘green with envy’ Will.
Sorry, I just couldn’t resist the ‘crack’ …. :-)
Off topic: Today I flew from Abu Dhabi on A35K, while taxing I spotted the Malaysia Airlines A380 at Etihad Maintenance. https://youtube.com/shorts/iWkpMoiAQ54?si=3_CaURXeqYG4ibO5
Sir, this is a Wendy's.
As I mentioned this in past, “common sense” about this topic is relative to only people who have strong passports, ie westerners. People from developing countries or countries with weak passports get a lot of advantages acquiring these stamps. It is another example of how granted people take such things in west. The world faces the complete opposite of what we face
I'm genuinely curious about what advantages are acquired from passport stamps. Could you elaborate?
Demonstrating a history of travelling places and complying with immigration, supporting further visa applications
Though I'd note that the stamps themselves don't replace the history of having visas, it doesn't so clearly show their use
Yes As Kyara mentioned, the stamps act as a manner to prove that you have a travel history abroad and you comply with immigration rules so you are relatively a safe person to issue visa to. This might not be obvious to someone with a passport that has visa free entry almost everywhere but this is very true, especially as it is something my partner had to face for most of his early years of travel
Clearly, there are those who do not possess a long term international travel history. The wrong stamp in a passport could prove to have been a distinct disadvantage to any passport holder wishing to enter a hostile country.
As others have said, it is for travel history. But in many cases, it is also accepted for for tax residency (or not, depending on what the passport holder wants to prove) based on number of days of stay.
When you have a third world passport, you have to apply for visas, which necessitates the humiliation ritual of sending a binder full of personal/tax/travel documents and an absurd application processing fee to the consulate - if you're lucky - or a third party visa processing service like VFS.
More often than not, you may get, after 15 business days, your non-biometric passport back with a single entry visa limited to the exact travel dates...
When you have a third world passport, you have to apply for visas, which necessitates the humiliation ritual of sending a binder full of personal/tax/travel documents and an absurd application processing fee to the consulate - if you're lucky - or a third party visa processing service like VFS.
More often than not, you may get, after 15 business days, your non-biometric passport back with a single entry visa limited to the exact travel dates you pre-purchased your flights and hotel for, the confirmations of which you meticulously printed out in aforementioned binder. One thing that could sway the ubermensch to take pity on you and grant you a generous 3 or 6 month multiple entry visa instead is proof of travel history, which these passport stamps unequivocally provide.
Passport stamps can indicate: "hey former-colonial-power-turned-overpriced-museum-and-asylum-refuge, maybe this brown won't overstay? idk"
I think it's fair for EU countries to see the interests of their own citizens (for once ) before the interests of people from other countries (whatever the interest of getting a passport stamp might be...)
Some of the ‘banter’ below about the merits, etc, of passport stamps is clearly ’hog-wash’. Suggesting woke racism even.
For decades many of us were never disadvantaged for having a ‘clean’ passport. Quite the opposite in fact. Travelling between unfriendly nations would have been extremely dangerous if one’s passport contained the wrong stamp.
Apologies, this post was intended to be completely stand alone and not a reply.
Many of you are not a senile man with British passport that has visa free/voa entry to 184 countries, Einstein (aero)
“Now there’s a thing!” For the uneducated and woke contributors who choose to prattle on like a Killybegs fish wife …. having visa free entry to numerous countries does not automatically entitle one to enter a country without obtaining entry/exit stamps. However, to the obviously uneducated minor passport holders, that simply fact would never occur to them. The poor darlink, becoming obsessed with envy, sexism, ageism, wokery and condescension simply exacerbates their ignorance.
One does...
“Now there’s a thing!” For the uneducated and woke contributors who choose to prattle on like a Killybegs fish wife …. having visa free entry to numerous countries does not automatically entitle one to enter a country without obtaining entry/exit stamps. However, to the obviously uneducated minor passport holders, that simply fact would never occur to them. The poor darlink, becoming obsessed with envy, sexism, ageism, wokery and condescension simply exacerbates their ignorance.
One does not need to possess the IQ of a genius to see those things, furthermore, relying upon a comparison with a person long dead, is hardly conducive with intelligent thinking, yes?
“Now there’s a thing!” For the uneducated and woke contributors who choose to prattle on like a Killybegs fish wife …. having visa free entry to numerous countries does not automatically entitle one to enter a country without obtaining entry/exit stamps. However, to the obviously uneducated minor passport holder, that simply fact would never occur to them. The poor darlink, becoming obsessed with envy, wokery and condescension simply exacerbates the ignorance.
One does not need...
“Now there’s a thing!” For the uneducated and woke contributors who choose to prattle on like a Killybegs fish wife …. having visa free entry to numerous countries does not automatically entitle one to enter a country without obtaining entry/exit stamps. However, to the obviously uneducated minor passport holder, that simply fact would never occur to them. The poor darlink, becoming obsessed with envy, wokery and condescension simply exacerbates the ignorance.
One does not need to possess the IQ of a genius to see those things, furthermore, relying upon a comparison with a person long dead, is hardly conducive with intelligent thinking, yes?