Fingerprint and photo scans to be fully enforced for American travelers headed to one continent

European vacation destinations will begin requiring all travelers to have prints of their fingers taken, as well as photos, upon arrival in a new screening process.

France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom and 25 other countries began implementing a new Entry/Exit System (EES) on Oct.12 — and come April 10, it will be fully enforced. 

The program will be introduced “in phases,” officials say. 

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“These European countries will introduce the different elements of the EES in phases, including the collection of biometric data, such as facial image and fingerprints,” theEuropean Union’s (EU) websitenotes.

“This means that biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) might not be collected at every border crossing point right away, and [travelers’]personal information may not be registered in the system,” it continued.

Europe’s new biometric border system will be fully enforced on April 10 and will require fingerprints and facial scans for all visitors.(Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Manual passport stamping is being replaced by automatic digital registration.

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“As passport stamping will no longer exist once the EES is operational, carriers must use an online interface to perform these checks instead,” reads the EU site.

Manual passport stamping is being replaced by automatic digital registration.(iStock)

It’s anticipated that the new policy will help modernize border management across Europe, including security improvements to combat fraud and terrorism.

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The system will be able totrack if visitors overstaytheir welcome in the Schengen Area, which is a zone of 29 European countries that allow movement.

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In March 2025, nearly 1.6 million Americans traveled to Europe.(Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A self-service system is offered for those with abiometric passport, which contains a “chip” of the personal biometric information collected.

This time last year — in March 2025 — nearly 1.6 million Americans traveled to Europe, according to the International Trade Administration.

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Roughly 16 to 18 million Americans traveled to Europe in all of 2025, according to industry estimates. 

Ashley J.