By Eric Hrubant, Founder & CEO of CIRE Travel
Beginning October 2025, the European Union will launch a new Entry/Exit System (EES) that replaces manual passport stamping with a digital record of travelers entering and leaving 29 European countries. The goal is to streamline border checks and strengthen security, but it also means a few new steps for non-EU visitors, including U.S. travelers headed to Europe for vacation or business.
What this means for travelers:
- Digital registration: On your first trip after EES begins, your passport will be scanned and your photo and fingerprints will be taken at the border. This data will be stored for future entries, so you won’t need to repeat the full process each time.
- Who it applies to: The system covers non-EU nationals visiting for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period), whether you need a visa or not.
- Where it applies: EES will be used across most of Europe’s Schengen Area, including popular destinations like France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and more.
- At the border: Expect slightly longer lines during the initial rollout, especially for first-time entries as border officers gather biometric data.
- Children: Kids under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting, though their photo will be taken.
- Passport stamps: Once EES is fully in place, physical stamps will no longer be used to track your days in Europe.
As the system rolls out, travelers can expect a smoother, faster experience on future visits, once that first registration is complete. The CIRE Travel team will continue to monitor updates and help you prepare for your next European trip with everything you need to know before departure.
MORE INFORMATION: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees
(NOTE: This is different and separate from the United Kingdom’s ETA. More info on that here.)
CIRE Travel is a full-service travel agency headquartered in New York, NY with offices in Kennebunkport, ME, Washington DC, Boston, MA, Miami, FL, Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Toronto, ON, Bogota, Colombia, Madrid, Spain, London, UK, Mexico City, Mexico, and Vancouver, BC. Our expert corporate travel planners, honeymoon travel agents, and luxury travel planners support clients across the country and around the world.
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