Goodbye to passport stamps: These are the countries that are gradually switching to digital border control

For many travelers, a passport full of stamps is a prized keepsake. But in Europe, that ritual is about to disappear as border checks go digital.

Europe’s new Entry/Exit System launches October 2025

From October 12, 2025, the EU will begin phasing in its Entry/Exit System (EES). Instead of stamps, travelers’ fingerprints and photos will be scanned and logged electronically. A short transition follows until April 10, 2026, when all Schengen external borders will drop stamps entirely.

The system will automatically enforce the 90-days-in-180 rule, ending the need to count stamps or dates by hand.

Why stamps are being replaced

EU officials say stamping is outdated – slow, inconsistent, and prone to errors. The new biometric process records exact entry and exit times and flags overstays instantly. The trade-off: smoother crossings, but no more ink souvenirs for travelers.

Where will passport stamps vanish?

All 29 Schengen countries will stop stamping, covering most of continental Europe – from Spain and France to Germany, Italy, the Nordics and Eastern states – plus non-EU members Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Two holdouts remain: Ireland and Cyprus, both outside Schengen, will continue using traditional stamps.

Which other nations have already made the switch?

Europe is catching up to others. The U.S. logs arrivals through its I-94 system, while the U.K. is expanding eGates alongside its ETA program. Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UAE also rely on biometrics instead of ink.

Once EES is in place, stamps will be gone for good. Border officers won’t issue them on request, and self-stamping invalidates passports. Travelers nostalgic for the ritual may want to collect boarding passes, postcards or souvenir-style stamps instead.

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