We all love flipping through our passports, spotting those inked stamps, and remembering every adventure. But big news is coming this fall, and it’s going to change that forever. Starting October 12, 2025, Europe is switching to a new digital border system. So, those little stamps you’ve been collecting? They’re about to disappear.
What’s Changing?
The European Union is rolling out its Entry/Exit System (EES). Instead of stamping your passport, border officials will scan your photo and fingerprints. It’s like trading ink for biometrics. For a few months, it’ll be a mix of stamps and digital logs. But by April 10, 2026, stamps will vanish completely at all Schengen borders.
Why the Switch?
Think of this as Europe going from old-school to digital. Stamping takes time, can get messy, and isn’t always accurate. The new system will:
- Track your entry and exit automatically.
- Make sure you don’t overstay the 90 days in the 180-day rule.
- Speed up border checks.
Basically, fewer delays and less stress about counting days. But yes, stamp collectors will definitely feel the heartbreak.
Where Will Stamps Disappear?
This change covers 29 Schengen countries—from France, Italy, and Spain to newer members like Bulgaria and Romania. Non-EU Schengen countries like Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland are also in.
Exceptions? Ireland and Cyprus. They’ll still stamp your passport the old-fashioned way.
Who Else Is Doing This?
Europe isn’t the first. The U.S. already ditched most stamps with its I-94 system. The U.K. is rolling out eGates and electronic authorisations. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UAE have used biometrics for years. So Europe is basically catching up.
What If You Still Want a Stamp?
Hate to break it to you, but once EES kicks in, there’s no going back. No sneaky self-stamping, no asking border officers. If you love collecting memories, switch to boarding passes, postcards, or even souvenir stamps from tourist shops.
The Bottom Line
Europe’s borders are going digital, and stamps are becoming history. So if you’ve got trips planned before 2026, enjoy those last inky souvenirs while you can.
