The European Union will introduce mandatory fingerprint and facial scans for non-EU travelers as part of its new Entry and Exit System (EES), beginning October 12, 2025.

According to a statement, the rollout will start gradually at airports and land crossings before becoming fully operational on April 10, 2026, the European Commission said.

The EES is an automated platform that records the movements of non-EU nationals on short stays each time they cross the external borders of participating European countries, including France, Spain, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

The commission said the system will apply to all non-EU nationals on short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Children under 12 will be exempt from fingerprinting.

The EU emphasised the EES will phase out traditional passport stamping, replacing it with a digital system that logs travelers’ entries and exits, streamlining border checks and improving staff efficiency.

It added that with the new system, travelers are expected to spend less time at border crossings through quicker checks, self-service kiosks, and the option to submit information in advance.