Travel in Europe

End of stamp on passports with the new European entry/exit system

Publié le 25 septembre 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The manual stamping of passports will end. As of 12 October 2025, the European Union is gradually introducing the ESS, a new digital entry/exit device (Entry Exit System) established at border crossing points. It concerns non-EU nationals who are on short stays in the Schengen countries.

What is the input/output system?

The Entry/Exit System (ESS) will concern nationals of non-Schengen countries, subject to visa or not, traveling in Europe for a short stay (maximum 90 days).

It is an automated device for the digital collection of passengers' personal data.

Its deployment starts on October 12, 2025, and end the use of the traditional customs stamp on entry into and exit from the Schengen area. The system will be fully operational in April 2026.

The establishment of the SSE is part of the “modernization of border control” decided by the European Commission.

Its objective is to:

  • to streamline passenger flows;
  • secure borders;
  • and electronically monitor the length of stay of visitors.

Who's going to set it up?

The 29 Schengen States apply the SSE at their borders: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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.

Reminder

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are not part of the European Union but they are integrated into the Schengen area.

What will change for travelers

The situation differs depending on whether or not you will already be registered in the ESS system.

  • If this is the first trip since the system was set up, the traveler will have to register his/her personal data and travel information at the border posts. This will allow you to create your ESS folder. In particular, it will have to provide biometric data - facial (photo of the face) and digital (fingerprint) - except for minors under 12 years.
  • If the passenger has already been prompted to create his ESS file, it will be updated at each border crossing with the date, link and time of the crossing.

During the implementation period, if biometric data cannot be collected, the passport will always be stamped.

To learn more about recording data in the ESS system, the Public Service gives you all the information: Stay in France of less than 3 months: registration in the European Entry/Exit System (EES)

Please note

The deployment of the ESS makes it possible to anticipate the arrival of ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), scheduled to be implemented in 2026. The ETIAS is a travel authorization, close to the American ESTA and the British ETA. Travelers wishing to travel to one of the EU Member States (except Ireland) or the Schengen area will have to order it online. Please note that no site currently issues an ETIAS authorization.

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