For many people who have traveled abroad their passport acts as a scrapbook of all the places they’ve been as they collect a new stamp with each country. Now, with a new entry and exit system the European Union is rolling out, passport stamps will be a thing of the past for many countries.
What is the EES?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is essentially an electronic way to keep track of your entries and exits in the European Union if you are not a national of an EU country. So, instead of receiving a passport stamp when you enter a country, your arrival is recorded electronically. Upon arriving at the border your passport will be scanned along with fingerprints and an image of your face. EES aims to strengthen border security for participating countries, along with lessening identity fraud or identifying overstayers. The new system is for travelers on short-term visits, which is defined as 90 total days in a 180 day period. EES applies to non-EU nationals whether or not they need a visa for entry.
What countries will stop stamping passports?
The new system will be in place in most EU countries, including a few added countries that makeup what is called the Schengen Area. The only countries in the EU that will continue using stamps for passports are Cyprus and Ireland.
When will EES start?
EES is slated to start November 10th; which means the new system is only a month away. While the system is expected to help make border crossings more efficient in the long run, with all new systems there might be an adjustment period that could make wait times longer at airports.
So, if you’ve been collecting stamps in your passport it looks like they’ll soon be a thing of the past. In the meantime, if you happen to have European travels scheduled in the next month, you get to enjoy some of the last few stamps on your passport.