Starting its rollout October 12, the majority of Europe requires entering visitors to provide their biometric data.

This month, the European Union (EU) will begin implementing its Entry/Exit System (EES) after years of delay. Instead of travelers getting passport stamps, they will give their biometric data to EU border authorities via the EES.

The new border control system will require travelers entering and departing from 29 European countries, the Schengen Area, to scan their fingerprints and have a photo taken of their face. In addition, the EES will record personal information from travelers’ documents (such as name and date of birth), as well as whether entry was refused, and the “date and place of each entry and exit.”

The EU notes that “if you hold a short-stay visa to enter the Schengen area, your fingerprints will already be stored in the Visa Information System (VIS) and will not be stored again in the EES.” Notably, Americans with residence or long-stay visas in the EU will not be required to participate in the EES.

What Else Is There To Know About The EES’ Biometric Data Collection Of Travelers?

The EU anticipates that the EES will be fully implemented by April 2026. According to an article published on September 19, the EES will work in tandem with ETIAS, also known as the European Travel Information and Authorization System.

The biometric collection will allegedly be strictly enforced. The EU says, “If you refuse to provide your biometric data, you will be denied entry into the territory of the European countries using the EES.”

Depending on the circumstances of your entry and exit, the EU could keep your personal data for up to five years. EU law enforcement, countries inside and outside of the EU, “transport carriers,” certain international organizations, and authorities working in border, visa, and immigration control may have access to your EES personal data.

What Are The European Countries That Will Implement The EES?

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czechia (Czech Republic)
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland