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3 weeks ago
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News
August 8, 2025 by Wale Gbadebo
Your next international trip to Europe may not come with a passport stamp marking which country or countries you visited.
Starting October 12, 29 European countries will begin replacing traditional passport stamps with a new Entry/Exit System (EES), which is expected to be fully operational by April 10, 2026.
This digital system is designed to make border checks faster and more efficient by recording the entry and exit of non-European travelers using fingerprint and facial recognition data.
The 29 countries involved are part of the Schengen Area, a zone in Europe where internal border controls have been mostly eliminated, allowing for the free movement of people among member countries. The Schengen Area currently includes 25 EU member states and 4 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.
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The biometric data collected will also help authorities identify individuals who overstay, use false identities, or abuse visa-free travel. Border officials and law enforcement will have access to this information to better manage security risks.
Below is the full list of the 29 countries that will start phasing out passport stamps on Oct. 12 as the new EES is rolled out:
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