Europe’s new Entry and Exit System (EES), which begins this month, will require travelers to provide a fingerprint or face scan for entry to countries in the European Union. Though full implementation of the EES will not take effect until April 2026, border crossings and airports are testing out the new technology this fall. If the system operates successfully, eventually all 29 EU member states will utilize fingerprints and face scans to document traveler movements.
According to Travel and Leisure, the new program is intended to “modernize borders, combat identity fraud, and easily identify travelers who overstay their visas.” Data on travelers will be stored for about three years, and the EU has claimed the data will not be transferred or sold to third parties. The European Union’s official page on the system says: “With EES, travelers will spend less time at the border thanks to faster checks, self-service options, and the possibility to give their information in advance.”
Any traveler without an EU passport will be required to use the EES system when entering the Schengen area for a short stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. When arriving in their destination, travelers will be able to use a self-serve kiosk or app to complete the EES depending on what the country offers.
Around the world, new processes for travel documentation are being adopted. In the U.S., expedited travel security programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry require fingerprints or face scans, and newer companies like Clear Plus also utilize biometrics.
