EU set to introduce fingerprint, facial scans at borders

The European Union will introduce mandatory fingerprint and facial scans for non-EU travelers as part of its new Entry and Exit System (EES), beginning October 12, 2025.

According to a statement, the rollout will start gradually at airports and land crossings before becoming fully operational on April 10, 2026, the European Commission said.

The EES is an automated platform that records the movements of non-EU nationals on short stays each time they cross the external borders of participating European countries, including France, Spain, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

The commission said the system will apply to all non-EU nationals on short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Children under 12 will be exempt from fingerprinting.

The EU emphasised the EES will phase out traditional passport stamping, replacing it with a digital system that logs travelers’ entries and exits, streamlining border checks and improving staff efficiency.

It added that with the new system, travelers are expected to spend less time at border crossings through quicker checks, self-service kiosks, and the option to submit information in advance.

Furthermore, the EU said the program aims to modernise border management, combat identity fraud, and monitor visa overstays.

“The EES will gradually replace passport stamps with a digital system that records when travellers enter and exit, making border checks faster and helping staff to work more efficiently,” the European Union stated.

“With EES, travellers will spend less time at the border thanks to faster checks, self-service options, and the possibility to give their information in advance.”

Biometric and personal data will be stored for up to three years but will not be shared with third parties.

This new system will significantly tighten enforcement, making it far more difficult for Nigerian travelers and other non-EU nationals, as overstaying could result in entry bans, future visa refusals, fines, or deportation.

The Entry and Exit System was first announced in 2023 and initially scheduled to launch in 2024, but its rollout was later postponed.