American travelers who reach 29 countries in Europe will face new border rules. They will be fingerprinted after they reach these European destinations. Earlier there was no such entry or exit rules to countries in the Schengen area.
The European Union’s new Entry and Exit System (EES) has come into effect from Sunday, October 12, 2025. Travelers who are visiting the 29 countries under Schengen for up to 90 days within a time period of 180 days will have their photo taken, their passports scanned and many of them will also be fingerprinted, except for children below the age of 12. The authorities will store the data on a digital database.
Some travelers might also be asked basic questions. Some countries such as Norway and Liechtenstein are part of the Schengen zone but not part of the EU and Ireland is part of the EU but not in the Schengen area.
Americans who have a biometric passport will take part in the new entry system. Those without such passports will have a separate queue. All those who stay over 90 days will be identified.
The new EES will do away with the traditional stamping in passports. It is a fully automated system and keeps digital instead of manual records. It will automatically track stays and overstays and will also lead to quicker border crossings.
It is expected to be fully implemented by April 2026. Some airports will begin implementation on October 12 and there will be a slow rollout to include all the 29 countries in the Schengen area.
The EU sees various advantages in the implementation of this system. Some of these advantages include better security, modernization and more efficient checks. The program will also be able to have tight control over identity fraud and increase security. It can also be used as a tool to fight terrorism.
