Say goodbye to passport stamps as Europe prepares for digital entry system
Biometric checks to replace stamps at Schengen borders from October 12
DUBAI – Travellers across Europe are about to see a fundamental change in the way borders are managed.
Beginning 12 October 2025, the European Union will introduce its new Entry/Exit System (EES), gradually replacing the familiar passport stamp with digital checks across 29 countries. The system, years in the making, will track the movements of non-EU visitors, requiring the registration of biometric and personal details at entry and exit points. Full implementation is planned for 10 April 2026.
The change will affect millions of visitors from the UK and beyond, as the scheme applies to “third-country nationals” entering the Schengen area. From the launch date, travellers will need to register their passport information, fingerprints and a facial scan when crossing the border for the first time. These records will remain valid for three years, expiring sooner if the passport itself expires.
How does the new system work?
At present, non-EU travellers are allowed to spend up to 90 days within any 180-day period inside the Schengen zone without a visa. Until now, compliance has been tracked manually through passport stamps. The EES digitises this process by logging entries and exits, ensuring passengers cannot overstay while strengthening security against irregular migration.
The new scheme will apply across 25 of the 27 EU member states, with Ireland and Cyprus continuing manual checks. It will also extend to Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, all of which are part of the Schengen area.
For passengers departing the UK, the first encounter with the new system may come even before boarding. So-called “juxtaposed” controls at the Port of Dover, Folkestone’s LeShuttle terminal and London St Pancras for Eurostar services mean travellers will register their details on British soil before departure.
What passengers need to know
At airports across Europe, kiosks will be installed for passengers to supply fingerprints and have a facial image taken before continuing through immigration. Dedicated booths will be used to store and verify data, which will be checked again on subsequent journeys. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprint collection, though their travel data will still be logged.
Dover, where space is limited, has created a new processing area on the former Granville Dock, roughly the size of five football pitches. Here, kiosks will be available for passengers to complete EES registration before passing through French border control.
At London St Pancras, Eurostar will introduce 49 registration booths across three separate areas of the station, supported by nine additional manual check desks and e-gates. Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi, which host juxtaposed British border controls, will also receive new kiosks to handle the extra procedures.
In Folkestone, LeShuttle has prepared a drive-through area capable of processing 53 cars simultaneously, with more than 100 kiosks to register passenger details. The operator, Getlink, says the system can handle 700 cars and 2,000 passengers per hour, with the initial registration expected to take around five minutes per vehicle.
Impact on travellers
While the EES is intended to streamline border crossings, delays are anticipated during the initial rollout as travellers complete biometric registration for the first time. Funding worth £10.5 million has been allocated by the UK government to support the Port of Dover, Eurostar and LeShuttle, with each receiving £3.5 million to install the required infrastructure.
Travellers will also be asked questions about their trips. These may cover accommodation arrangements, proof of sufficient funds and evidence of onward travel. Although there is no legal requirement for a return ticket, border guards may ask for documentation to demonstrate that a traveller intends to leave within the permitted 90-day period.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, is developing an app to allow passengers to pre-register details before departure. However, fingerprints will still need to be captured at the border, and the app is not expected to be available before the scheme’s launch.
Linked visa waiver
The EES will also work alongside a separate system, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), which is expected to take effect in late 2026. This will require eligible non-EU nationals, including British travellers, to obtain a travel waiver costing £17. Valid for three years or until the passport expires, the waiver must be secured at least three days before travel.
Beyond Europe
Europe is not alone in moving away from passport stamps. Countries including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Argentina have already begun phasing them out, while the United States is expanding the use of e-gates in airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has partnered with biometric verification provider CLEAR at select airports. Trials began at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport and are set to expand to Ronald Reagan Washington National and Seattle-Tacoma.
For frequent travellers, the iconic passport stamp is becoming a relic of the past. As borders shift towards digital verification, the new EES represents Europe’s step into an era where biometrics, not ink, mark a journey across the continent.