EU Passports On The Verge Of ‘Disappearing’

The European Union (EU) says, manually stamping passports takes a lot of time and makes it impossible to systematically identify overstayers. But as soon as you enter the Schengen Area, this will disappear.

According to the EU, on November 10, 2025, a new automated Entry/Exit System (EES) will go live, eliminating the need for paper stamps and allowing applicants to register non-EU guests digitally.

EES will soon take the place of the current passport stamping system, according to a statement from the European Commission’s Directorate for Migration and Home Affairs.

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES): What is it?

An automated IT system called the EES will be used to register third-country visitors who are either short-stay visa holders or visa exempt.

The system will record a person’s identity, travel document type, biometric information (facial photos and fingerprints), date, and exit location each time they cross an external EU border. Refusals of entrance will also be documented.

Self-service technologies and automated border control inspections are expected to speed up travel and increase EU security. However, a lack of planning may result in teething issues when the system is implemented, according to the airline industry and other nations.

Ghana Celebrates, As US Reverses Visa Restrictions. The Full Details

Travelers who wish to enter the Schengen Area without a visa will now need to apply for online travel authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). After the EES is up and running, this will be introduced gradually.

This acts as proof that they have not overstayed their visa-free limit of 90 days in a 180-day period. It typically happens automatically at security and, for some travel lovers, has even been a tiny silver lining of leaving the EU.