This autumn, bid farewell to stamp souvenirs: the European Union is rolling out the Entry/Exit System (EES) starting from October 12, 2025, gradually in 29 countries of the Schengen area. Instead, automated kiosks at the external borders will scan your biometric passport, take a photo, and sometimes, your fingerprints. The promise: more security and smoothness — although a few extra minutes of waiting are expected at the start. A digital transformation that also prepares for the arrival of ETIAS in 2026.
Goodbye to purple ink and the stamps that made the passport feel like a badge book. Starting this autumn, the borders of the Schengen area will shift to a 100% digital control with the Entry/Exit System (EES): an automated system that records your entries and exits using biometrics. Gradual deployment from October 12, 2025, extension to 29 European countries, initial lines possibly a bit longer, and coordinated arrival with ETIAS in 2026: here’s what changes, how it works, and how to preserve the soul of souvenirs without stamps.
The stamps were the Panini album of globetrotters: each ink told a stop, a detour, a “I was there.” Now it’s a border where you present yourself at a kiosk, scan your biometric passport, capture your face, sometimes your fingerprints, and continue your journey. The EES replaces the manual stamp with a digital trace designed to secure passages and streamline the flow when everything runs smoothly.
This shift does not mean the end of souvenirs, but their metamorphosis. Rather than stacking rectangles of ink, we collect routes, photos, and stories — and nothing stops you from giving style to your travel journal. To inspire you, dream of archipelagos and light with this getaway to the Philippines in a Palawan style: heading to Palawan.
Why are we saying goodbye to the stamp?
Triple objective: more efficient controls at the external borders of Schengen, better monitoring of stay durations for non-European travelers, and automation of formalities through biometrics. The idea was validated in European regulations adopted in 2017, and it is finally taking shape, kiosk by kiosk, counter by counter.
Where and when is the EES being implemented?
The system will progressively start from October 12, 2025 in the 29 countries of the Schengen area, including France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Cyprus and Ireland are not affected. The ramp-up will continue until spring, aiming for a general operation by April 2026.
Practically, how does it work at the border?
Upon your arrival at the external borders of Schengen, a kiosk registers in seconds: the data from your biometric passport, a photo of your face, and, depending on the crossing points, your fingerprints. The EES notes the entry and exit, automatically calculates the time spent in Schengen, and reports any overstays. All this, without stamping a single page.
Who is concerned (and who is not)?
Concerned are: non-EU/EEA/Swiss travelers entering the Schengen area, including British, American, Canadian visitors, etc. Not concerned: citizens of the EU (and similar) using dedicated lines. In short, if you are traveling with a passport from a third country, the EES will be closely watching you — benevolently, but mind the duration of stay.
Queues: shorter or longer at the beginning?
The promise is an increased smoothness once the system is up and running. However, at launch, some companies and authorities anticipate additional minutes per passenger, while everyone learns the steps with the kiosk. Translation: plan a bit of margin for your connections, especially in very busy airports and international train stations.
The great duo EES + ETIAS
While the EES takes care of recording your crossings, ETIAS will be the electronic travel authorization expected from 2026 for visa-exempt travelers. Applications will be made online before departure, and then you will go to the kiosk upon arrival: two distinct, complementary tools aimed at securing and speeding up the border.
What does it change for you, the traveler’s perspective
The first image of Europe: a modern kiosk instead of a counter. Your pages remain unmarked, your memories reside in your phone’s memory and your journals. Practically, have your biometric passport ready, remove hats, glasses, or masks if requested, and let the technology do the rest.
Travelers, are you preparing for a beautiful getaway alone or with friends? A guide of inspirations and tips awaits you here: the feminine world of travel. And for those who love to give or receive beautiful accessories to enhance the journey (tags, notebooks, RFID pouches), here are clever ideas: gifts inspired by the theme of travel.
How to preserve the charm of souvenirs without a stamp?
The stamp will no longer be ink and paper, but you can cultivate the collector spirit. Photograph your old stamps, print them in a travel diary, create a map of routes, keep your (digital) boarding passes, collect local tickets: the poetry of travel survives very well in the digital world. And if your heart desires, pair each trip with a ritual (a coffee at sunrise, a photo in front of a mural, a subway ticket stuck in the journal), like an itinerary in the Philippines that becomes a travel method: the Palawan method.
Little clever checklist for an express passage
Before departing: check that your passport is indeed biometric and valid for several months after your return. Approaching the kiosk: have the document open on the identity page, temporarily remove caps and dark glasses, and stand straight facing the camera. With family: explain to the children that the kiosk will take a photo, in order to gain precious seconds. And in case of doubt, follow the signage: a staff member is always there to set the right tempo.
The final word on the stamp (without stamp)
Borders are changing their accessories: less ink, more pixels. The EES inaugurates an era where the souvenir is written differently, and where the best way to avoid chaos is to travel informed, curious… and a bit playful. After all, the true imprint of your travels is left by you.
