Passport processing times explained: How long will it take?
Planning a trip? Here’s how long it takes to get a passport
It’s nearing the end for travelers to receive those beloved passport stamps from several European countries as a new digital system will start phasing them out in two months.
A year after its initial announcement, the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) will go into effect on Oct. 12, automating the border-crossing of non-EU nationals for short-stay visits in 29 countries, according to the official EU website. The new system was supposed to be implemented last November, but it was delayed.
“The EES will gradually replace passport stamps with a digital system that records when travellers enter and exit, making border checks faster and helping staff to work more efficiently,” the website states. By April 10, 2026, the system will be fully in use.
It is meant to streamline border crossings while also increasing the security of the Schengen Area, the website says.
With the EES, foreign visitors will have their faces and fingerprints scanned at border control rather than having their passport stamped. Border officers will verify a traveler’s entry and exit into the country with the biometric data, which will also be stored for future reference.
In 2012, Australia became the first to eliminate the longstanding entry requirement of passport stamps, followed by countries such as Argentina and Israel.
This is just another new entry system for visa-free travelers going to the EU. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is set to launch near the end of 2026, requiring short-stay visitors to pay 20 euros and get pre-screened before entry.
Which countries are phasing out passport stamps?
- 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
- Switzerland
Does the EES apply to U.S. tourists?
Yes, it applies to those who do not require a short-stay visa to enter the EU, which includes those with a U.S. passport. Short stays are defined as visits of 90 days or less within a 180-day period.