Border checks are going digital across Europe — and it could mean queues and fingerprinting, writes Grantham travel expert Lynne Page.
Europe’s new digital border checks to begin in October 2025
Travellers heading to most EU countries will soon face a major change at border control, as the European Union prepares to launch its long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) — a high-tech alternative to traditional passport stamps.
Lynne Page
Under the new system, visitors from outside the EU — including the UK, US, Canada and Australia — who are staying in the Schengen Area for short trips (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) will need to register their fingerprints and a facial image the first time they enter. This can be done at a self-service kiosk or with help from border officers.
Once registered, travellers will not need to repeat the process for three years, unless their passport changes.
The system will start rolling out from October 12, 2025, and will become mandatory at all major entry points by April 2026. After that, border guards will no longer stamp passports — digital records will automatically track entries and exits.
Children under 12 will not need to give fingerprints, but all other travellers must complete biometric registration or risk being turned away.
As with all new systems, delays are expected. While the aim is to make travel smoother in the long term, longer wait times are likely during the initial rollout — particularly at busy airports, ferry terminals and train stations. Not all locations will be fully equipped straight away, so extra patience may be needed when passing through high-traffic points such as London’s Eurostar terminal or the Port of Dover.
The EES is intended to improve border security, reduce passport fraud and help authorities identify people who overstay. It will also introduce a consistent border process across nearly all Schengen countries. The only exceptions will be Ireland and Cyprus, which will continue using manual stamps for now.
If you are planning a trip to Europe after October, ensure you bring a valid biometric passport, allow additional time for border checks and be ready to register your details once. After that, future entries should be faster — with no more stamps, just a smooth digital check-in to the continent.