A big change in passport control is coming

Stamps, the patterns printed on passports to signify a person’s passage through a country, will soon disappear for some travelers. The European Commission has officially confirmed the launch of a new system to control entries and exits from the territory of the European Union (EU) from November 10, 2024.

A faster and more modern process

To control the passage of British and non-EU travellers, the stamps will be replaced by an electronic control, similar to those already provided for EU citizens. The visitors concerned will therefore have to scan their passport on an automatic self-service terminal, each time they enter the territory from a foreign country (whether they hold a visa or not). The name of the traveller will be recorded, as well as their biometric data, the date and place of entry and exit. Every three years, facial scans and fingerprints will be taken. The device will also detect refusals of entry into the country.

Once implemented, non-EU tourists will be required to register in the system, called the EES (Entry/Exit System). Stored in a secure database, information from people coming from the United States or Morocco, for example, will be kept for three years, avoiding the need for travellers to register every year.

Better regulate the flow of visitors

According to the European Commission, this technique should speed up passport checks at the airport, provide reliable information on border crossings and better control over authorised lengths of stay. It should also make it easier to target document and identity fraud. All EU Member States will apply this method, with the exception of Cyprus and Ireland. The EES will also not apply to four Schengen countries (non-EU): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Originally scheduled for 2022, the system’s implementation has been delayed by IT problems and complications with installing the automated barriers required at all borders.

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