Starting from April 10, 2023, a new border control system known as the Entry/Exit System (EES) will come into effect in Schengen Area countries. This innovation will replace traditional passport stamps and change the procedure for passing through border control, as reported by Tengri Travel citing TravelPulse.
One of the key aspects of the system will be the transition to biometric registration. Now, upon entry and exit, travelers will:
* have their fingerprints scanned;
* be photographed.
The collected data will be stored in digital format and used for future trips. This means that Europe will abandon paper stamps in passports, and "biometric data will replace the familiar stamps that many tourists used to collect."
It is worth noting that for those who already have experience entering Schengen countries, the process will become faster.
"If a traveler has already used the EES to cross borders, their photo and/or fingerprints will already be in the system," the official clarifications state.
In such cases, border guards will simply verify the data without the need for re-registration.
However, in some situations, a re-collection of data may be required if the system cannot correctly identify them.
It is also noted that holders of biometric passports will be able to use automatic terminals for border control (if available at the crossing point). However, travelers are advised to be prepared for possible queues.
