The European Union is implementing the Entry/Exit System (EES), a new border security initiative that will require travelers to submit biometric data, including fingerprints and facial photos. This rollout, beginning on October 12, will be implemented across 26 European countries, including France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and 25 others. The phased implementation will focus on different aspects of the EES, including the collection of biometric data such as facial images and fingerprints.
The EES is designed to modernize border management across Europe, improve security against fraud and terrorism, and track overstays within the Schengen Area. While travelers’ passports will still be stamped as usual, the EES is expected to significantly enhance border control capabilities. However, the system will not collect biometric data at every border crossing immediately, and personal information may not be registered in the system right away.
A self-service system is available for those with biometric passports, which contain a chip storing the collected personal biometric information. The U.S. Department of State has also announced that U.S. citizens traveling to most European countries should expect new automated border checks and digital collection of their biometric data upon arrival and departure. The EU has stated that safeguards will be in place to protect the data, which will only be retained for as long as necessary and for the purpose it was collected. Refusal to provide biometric data will result in denied entry.