Americans traveling to Europe are now encountering major changes at border crossings as the European Union’s long‑planned Entry/Exit System (EES) has officially come into force. The new system replaces traditional passport stamps with biometric checks, including fingerprints and facial scans, and is now fully operational across participating countries. The EES, which began limited rollout in late 2025, became fully active at airports and other external border points on April 10, 2026, according to the European Commission. Millions of U.S. travelers heading to Europe for vacations, business trips, cruises, and short stays are now subject to the updated procedures. What Has Changed As of April 10, border authorities across 29 Schengen Area countries—including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece—are enforcing the new digital system. These countries, which allow passport‑free movement within their borders, now record all non‑EU entries and exits in a centralized database. The EES logs travelers’ biometric data and movement history, replacing the manual passport stamps used for decades. Who Must Use the New System The system applies to all non‑EU nationals entering participating countries for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180‑day period. This includes Americans traveling visa‑free for tourism, business, or family visits. EU officials say the system is designed to curb identity fraud, track overstays more effectively, and identify individuals who may pose security risks. Travelers entering the EU from the UK on routes where EU border checks occur on British soil—such as Eurostar services from London St Pancras, the Port of Dover, and the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone—now complete EES registration before departure. No biometric collection occurs in the United States. Passport Stamps Are Gone For U.S. travelers, one of the most noticeable changes is the elimination of passport stamping. Instead, border officers now collect: - Fingerprints - Facial scans -