EU to require biometric data from American travelers under new border system
Biometric data including fingerprints, a photo and passport details will be collected at first entry across 29 Schengen-area countries; rollout will occur over six months.
Starting Oct. 12, American travelers heading to Europe will be subject to the European Union's new Entry and Exit System, affecting 29 countries that form the Schengen Area and its neighbors. Under the system, passport control officers will collect fingerprints, a facial image and passport details, and will digitally record each traveler's entry and exit dates.
Physical passport stamps will be replaced by digital records as part of the process. Travelers will register biometric data—either at border points via self-service equipment or through a mobile app, if available—before or during initial entry; even with pre-registration, travelers will still meet a passport control officer for verification. The EU says the approach helps track foreign visitors and enforce the 90-day rule in any 180-day period.
During subsequent trips to the Schengen Area, travelers will benefit from quicker entries, as fingerprints and photographs can be verified automatically by e-gates and the computerized system. However, in some cases it may be necessary to recapture data.
The system will be rolled out gradually over six months, and it will apply to 29 countries, including 25 EU member states plus Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The list of affected countries includes 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.
Officials say the system is designed to speed border checks for frequent travelers once data is stored in the central system. Those without biometric passports may face longer first-time entry procedures, but may reach faster processing on subsequent trips.
Travelers are advised to review the EU guidance and the U.S. State Department resources for details on entry requirements and any visa considerations. The plan is anchored in EU border-security objectives and aims to balance security with smoother travel for regular visitors.