EU rolls out biometric border checks for short-stay visitors

The European Union (EU) in Kenya has announced that data for non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay to 29 European countries will be recorded electronically from October 12.

In a statement posted on X, the EU said the Entry/Exit System (EES) will EES will collect biometric data (fingerprints and facial recognition scans) at border checkpoints.

The system will also record entry and exit dates electronically, eliminating reliance on passport stamps and monitor the duration of stay for non-EU visitors to prevent overstays.

The European Union is moving away from traditional passport stamps for non-EU travelers with full implementation by April 2026.

This change is part of the new EES, which replaces manual stamping with a digital system that uses biometric data (fingerprints and facial images) to record entry and exit into the Schengen Area- a zone of 29 European countries that have abolished internal border controls.

The EES aims to enhance border security, speed up border controls, and identify individuals who overstay or abuse visa-free travel.

Non-EU travelers will be required to provide fingerprints and facial scans at the border for their first entry into the system.

Instead of a stamp, their data will be registered digitally, creating an electronic record of their travel.

While official stamps will be phased out, some airports may still offer commemorative or souvenir stamps for visitors.

Your passport will still be essential to travel, as it serves as the travel document that will be linked to the digital records.

Travellers will have their biometric details scanned at self-service kiosks or through designated counters before meeting a border official. The system then cross-references these details with existing databases to ensure compliance with visa and entry rules.

While EU citizens, long-term residents, and certain visa categories are exempt, the system introduces new steps for tourists, professionals, and short-term visitors who were previously used to a simple passport stamp.

The traditional passport stamping method has long been inefficient and vulnerable to fraud.

The EU’s decision to launch EES is driven by three key objectives; to enhance security by digitally tracking entries and exits, to improve efficiency by reducing waiting times and to ensure uniform entry-exit tracking.

The EES is seen as one step in a larger EU initiative to modernise travel security. By the end of 2025 (unless postponed by the European Union), the system will be followed by the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), a visa-waiver pre-screening process that will apply to visitors from visa-exempt countries.

Travellers from the UK, US, and other eligible nations will need ETIAS approval before travelling.

While the shift to biometric border control may pose initial challenges, it represents a long-term move towards digitalisation and security in the European travel landscape.