Collecting passports stamps from countries around the world has long been part of the thrill for avid globetrotters. But that cherished part of travel is about to become a thing of the past across many European locations.
Nearly 30 countries in the European Union are set to switch to a biometric and electronic border entry system this autumn, meaning passport stamps will no longer be issued.
The EU website outlines the latest details of the new Entry/Exit System (EES), including noting that the current plan is to begin a gradual phase-in of the new approach on Oct 12.
“European countries using the EES will introduce the system gradually at their external borders. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by April 10, 2026,” says the EU website.
The EES is an automated IT system that registers non-EU nationals who are traveling for a “short stay” each time they cross an EU country’s external borders. A short stay is considered a visit of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
There are several benefits to the new EES approach, according to the EU information page. For instance, the electronic entry system is expected to make border checks more modern and efficient. In addition, it will ideally make travel across borders easier and faster.
The hope is that the new EES system will also increase security in the EU’s Schengen Area, which encompasses 29 European countries.
The EU isn’t the first location to phase out passport stamps. Australia did so in 2012.
Here are the EU countries that will begin phasing out passport stamps in October:
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. – TravelPulse/Tribune News Service
