For Fans of Passport Stamps, Europe Has Some Troubling News

Soon, many of your cherished European passport stamps will become a thing of the past. Later this year, the 29 countries in the European Schengen Area will stop stamping passports, transitioning to a new system that the European Union claims will enhance border control efficiency and bolster security.

EU commissioner Ylva Johansson announced on August 16, "At every airport, harbor, and roadway into Europe, we will implement digital border controls. When this occurs, it will mark the end of passport stamping and the beginning of digital verification."

The new initiative is set to launch on November 10, introducing the automated Entry/Exit System (EES), which will digitally log non-EU travelers. Under EES guidelines, upon their first entry into Europe, travelers will have their faces and fingerprints scanned. This biometric data will then be cross-checked with their passport details (such as name, ID number, birth date, and issue and expiration dates) to confirm their arrival and departure. After this initial process, only a facial scan will be needed for subsequent visits.

Digitally confirming travelers' identities and their movements eliminates the need for physical passport stamps. According to the European Commission’s Department for Migration and Home Affairs, "EES will take over the current manual passport stamping process, which is slow, fails to deliver accurate border crossing data, and cannot systematically identify overstayers," they stated.

Initially set to launch in 2022, EES has faced delays and is now expected to roll out. The European Union states that EES "will be an automated IT system for registering travelers from non-EU countries, including both short-stay visa holders and those exempt from visas, each time they enter an EU external border."

Which European nations will stop stamping passports?

The new digital EES will be implemented by the 29 countries in the European Schengen Area, which include:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

How will the new digital entry system in Europe operate?

To access the system, travelers must possess a biometric passport, commonly referred to as an electronic or e-passport, which has been available to Americans since 2007. This type of passport features a symbol with two rectangles and a circle in the center on its cover to indicate its biometric nature.

Those visiting the EU without biometric passports will have to undergo additional processing at the border and will be unable to use the self-service passport kiosks. Individuals who refuse to provide the necessary data will not be permitted entry into the EU. The system will track not only passport details but also the exact times of entry and exit, along with any previous refusals of entry.

Who has access to travelers' personal information?

As stated in an online EU guide about the new EES system, several entities will have access to your personal data, including European border, visa, and immigration authorities; Europol for law enforcement purposes; transport carriers to check the number of entries permitted for specific visa holders; and under strict conditions, your data may be shared with another country (inside or outside the EU) or an international organization.

Only time will reveal if the new system fulfills its promises of more efficient and reliable border crossings. For those who cherish passport stamps as mementos of past travels, this change may be difficult to accept. However, it could also mean that frequent travelers to the EU, whether for business or leisure, won’t need to renew their passports as often.

Is this the same as the new ETIAS travel authorization process for Europe?

The new EES system is linked to but distinct from the delayed ETIAS travel authorization initiative for Europe. ETIAS is expected to launch six months after EES becomes operational, now projected for the first half of 2025. Travelers from outside the EU will incur a seven-euro (approximately $7.75 based on current exchange rates) entry fee for an authorization valid for three years or until the associated passport expires.

While travelers must apply for ETIAS in advance, it is not a visa; it resembles the US ESTA, the Canadian eTA, or the British ETA, all of which assess the eligibility of visitors traveling under a visa waiver program.