The European Union (EU) will begin implementing mandatory fingerprint and facial scans for non-EU travelers as part of its new Entry and Exit System (EES) starting October 12, 2025.
According to the European Commission, the rollout will begin gradually across major airports and land border points before becoming fully operational on April 10, 2026.
The EES is a digital border management system designed to automatically record when non-EU nationals enter and leave participating European countries — including France, Spain, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland — during short stays. It will apply to all non-EU travelers visiting the region for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Children under the age of 12 will not be required to provide fingerprints.
The new system will replace the traditional passport stamping process with a digital log of each traveler’s entry and exit, which the EU says will make border checks faster, reduce waiting times, and boost efficiency through self-service kiosks and pre-arrival data submission options.
“The EES will gradually replace passport stamps with a digital system that records when travelers enter and exit, making border checks faster and helping staff work more efficiently,” the EU explained.
“With EES, travelers will spend less time at the border thanks to faster checks, self-service options, and the possibility of submitting information in advance.”
The European Commission added that the EES is part of a broader effort to modernize border control, fight identity fraud, and track visa overstays more effectively.
Biometric and personal data collected will be stored for up to three years and will not be shared with third parties, the EU assured.
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However, the new system also means tighter enforcement of immigration rules. Non-EU nationals, including Nigerian travelers, who overstay their permitted period may face entry bans, visa refusals, fines, or deportation in the future.
The EES was first announced in 2023 and was initially set to launch in 2024, but its implementation was postponed to allow for further technical and logistical preparations.
