EU To Roll Out Fingerprint, Facial Scans For Non-EU Travellers

The European Union has announced plans to commence mandatory fingerprint and facial scans for all non-EU travellers entering its borders, as part of a new digital border management framework known as the Entry and Exit System (EES).

According to a statement released by the European Commission on Monday, the initiative will take effect from October 12, 2025, beginning with selected airports and land border points across member states. The system is expected to become fully operational by April 10, 2026.

The EES, an automated database, will record the entry and exit of non-EU nationals embarking on short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across participating Schengen countries, including France, Spain, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

Children under 12 years of age will, however, be exempted from fingerprinting under the new regulation.

The Commission explained that the system is designed to replace traditional passport stamping with a digital mechanism that automatically logs travellers’ movements, thereby streamlining border processes, improving efficiency, and combating identity fraud.

> “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 EU said.

It added that the deployment of self-service kiosks and the option to submit personal information in advance would further reduce waiting times at border crossings.

The biometric and personal data collected will be stored securely for up to three years and will not be shared with any third parties, the EU assured.

Officials noted that the new framework aims to strengthen Europe’s security architecture by closely monitoring visa overstays and tightening immigration compliance.

Analysts, however, warn that the development could pose challenges for Nigerian and other non-EU travellers, as overstaying within the bloc could attract severe penalties such as entry bans, visa denials, fines, or deportation.

Originally slated for a 2024 rollout, the EES project was delayed due to technical and logistical hurdles. Its implementation marks a significant shift towards digital border surveillance and reflects the EU’s broader agenda to modernise travel systems while bolstering continental security.