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