Many travelers love to collect passport stamps on their adventures, and a full passport book is a common aspiration among those who strive to see the world. If you’re one of those people, it might be time to book a flight, because the European Union is phasing out passport stamps in favor of the new Entry/Exit System (EES).
What is the EES?
The Entry/Exit System is a new electronic method for tracking non-EU nationals’ entries and exits throughout the EU and Schengen Area. This means that instead of getting a passport stamp at the airport, your arrival will be recorded electronically via scans of your passport and fingerprints, plus a picture of your face.
The goal of EES is to improve border security in the EU and mitigate identity fraud and overstayers. It’s aimed at travelers on short-term visits, meaning 90 total days in a 180 day period. Some non-EU nationals exempt from EES include those with residence permits and long-stay visas, and those participating in research or study programs.
Which countries will stop stamping passports?
All European countries will implement EES, except for Cyprus and Ireland, which will continue to stamp manually.
EES-participating countries are 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, and Switzerland.
When does EES start?
EES has a projected start date of November 10th, 2024. Travelers might experience lines and delays at the airport as a result of the new system, but once your information is in the EES, subsequent trips should go more smoothly.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin ahead of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), another new policy requiring non-EU nationals to apply for pre-travel authorization when traveling the Schengen Area. This authorization will be rolled out in early 2025, and the system is expected to be fully operational by the summer. You can learn more about ETIAS here.