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  • Your Face and Fingerprints Will Be Your Entry Into Europe
Couple going through airport security and scanning their fingerprints

U.S. Visitors Face New Screening at Europe’s Borders 🛂

Starting in October 2025, American travelers and other non‑EU visitors heading to Europe will be enrolled in a new biometric system that replaces the traditional passport stamp. Under the EU’s long-anticipated Entry/Exit System (EES), you’ll be photographed and fingerprinted the first time you enter the Schengen Area in a move to streamline and secure European travel.

Published by
Celia Robbins·22 hours ago
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What Is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a digital upgrade to border management across the Schengen Zone. Instead of a stamp in your passport, your passport details, facial image, and four fingerprints will be collected and stored when you first arrive. This biometric profile is kept for up to three years or until your passport expires—whichever comes first.

The purpose? To prevent overstays, enhance border security, and pave the way for the EU’s upcoming ETIAS travel authorization system launching in 2026.

How It Works for American Visitors

  • First Entry Only: On your initial arrival—by land, air, or sea—you’ll be photographed and fingerprinted.

  • Biometric Record: Your profile is saved, so next time you visit, your identity is verified digitally.

  • No Opt-Out: Refuse the scan, and you’ll be denied entry.

  • Valid for 3 Years: Your biometrics stay on file until you get a new passport or the retention window expires.

Why Is the EU Doing This?

The EES aims to:

  • Enforce the 90/180-day rule (you can stay in the Schengen Zone for 90 days in any 180-day period).

  • Catch travelers using multiple or false identities.

  • Prepare for ETIAS, the upcoming pre-travel clearance system for non-EU citizens.

It's also part of a broader trend. Many countries, including the United States, already use biometric systems at their borders.

Quick Facts at a Glance

Launch Date: October 2025 (Full rollout by Spring 2026)

Who’s Affected: U.S., UK, Canadian, Australian, and other non-EU short-stay visitors

What’s Collected: Passport data, facial image, 4 fingerprints, entry/exit stamps

Exemptions: Long-stay visa or residency holders; some physical disabilities (with documentation)

Where It Applies: 25 EU countries + Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein (not Cyprus or Ireland)

What to Expect at the Border

  • Delays: During the first few months, longer wait times are expected as travelers are registered for the first time.

  • Streamlined Checks Later: Once enrolled, you’ll pass through faster automated e-gates—no manual stamps required.

Countries like France and Germany have already warned travelers to prepare for longer lines at airports and train terminals during the initial rollout.

Should You Be Worried?

Not really—here’s why:

This is standard: The U.S. already collects biometrics from most foreign visitors.

Your privacy is protected: Data is stored under strict GDPR rules and can be corrected or deleted upon request.

It’s one-time only: Once you’re in the system, future travel will be faster and more automated.

A more secure, streamlined system is arriving. For Americans: yes, you’ll be fingerprinted once starting in October 2025. But after that, travel across Europe should be smoother, faster, and better monitored.

Planning a trip next year? Give yourself extra time at arrival and stay updated on new border procedures.

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