Starting October 12, 29 European countries will begin phasing out traditional passport stamps in favour of a new digital Entry/Exit System (EES), with full implementation expected by April 10, 2026.
The system will record the entry and exit of non-European travellers using fingerprint and facial recognition technology, aiming to speed up border checks and improve security across the Schengen Area.
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The EES will also help authorities track overstays, detect false identities, and curb visa-free travel abuse, while offering travellers self-service options to submit information in advance, reducing wait times at border crossings.
Here are 29 participating countries are:
1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Bulgaria
4. Croatia
5. Czechia
6. Denmark
7. Estonia
8. Finland
9. France
10. Germany
11. Greece
12. Hungary
13. Iceland
14. Italy
15. Latvia
16. Liechtenstein
17. Lithuania
18. Luxembourg
19. Malta
20. Netherlands
21. Norway
22. Poland
23. Portugal
24. Romania
25. Slovakia
26. Slovenia
27. Spain
28. Sweden
29. Switzerland
