Beginning October 12, 2025, 29 EU countries will start phasing out conventional passport stamps as a new Entry/Exit System is introduced. By April 2026, facial images, fingerprints, and digital records will fully replace the traditional border officer’s stamp.

The system aims to be faster, safer, and more efficient, reducing fraud, speeding up border checks, and improving the tracking of movement. Countries leading the change include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

EU countries are not the first to adopt this new system, as the UK launched its electronic travel authorization (ETA) in January, following the likes of Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Argentina, which eliminated stamps years ago. Even the United States is quietly phasing out passport stamps while expanding facial recognition and programs such as Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and Clear Plus. For travelers, Snapchat memories and iCloud pictures will soon be the new evidence of exploring destinations, as opposed to visa stamps being the official souvenirs of country visits.