In the next few months, the European Union will be changing its entry procedures for foreigners, and I think people will have mixed feelings about this.
European Union to replace passport stamps with biometrics
On November 10, 2024, the European Union will introduce a new Electronic Entry/Exit System (EES) for foreign travellers, which will mean that travellers from most countries will no longer have their passports stamped.
Instead, under the new system, foreign visitors entering the European Union will have their fingerprints and faces digitally scanned upon entry. That biometric data will be used to verify the visitor's entry and exit into the European Union.
To use the system, travelers need a biometric passport, which the US has been issuing since 2007, so anyone with a passport in the US should currently have one. Travelers without a biometric passport must go through a longer process and cannot use the self-service passport control lanes.
The European Union's Home Affairs Commissioner stated:
“Digital border controls will be in place at all airports, at all ports and on all roads into Europe. Then there will be no more stamps in passports and digital checks will be introduced.”
It is important to note that this development is separate from the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is due to be introduced in May 2025 (but may be delayed again). Once this system is introduced, up to 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries will be required to obtain travel authorisation before travelling to the European Union.
EU immigration procedures will change slightly
This is a common-sense development.
Passport stamps are kind of funny, and the idiom “too much of a good thing is bad” comes to mind. Some people get excited about passport stamps, of course, because they provide a fun reminder of the places you've traveled to. But for frequent travelers, these stamps are a hassle because they fill up your passport quickly and require you to get a new passport.
Aside from the novelty of passport stamps, using biometric data and going electronic is generally a smart move from a border security perspective, and the new system should also mean that travelers will often be able to use automated gates when entering a country, which is also a positive development.
This is a logical change for the EU to make.
Conclusion
As of November 10, 2024, the European Union is set to introduce a new electronic system for entry and exit into the bloc, requiring travelers to provide biometric data rather than relying on passport photos and stamps, and next year will see the introduction of new travel authorization requirements for people arriving from many countries.
What do you think about the EU phasing out passport stamps and switching to biometric data?
