A broad shift to digital borders rolls out in 2026, replacing manual passport stamps with biometric checks and the Entry/Exit System (EES) across 29 Schengen states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Switzerland joins the European-wide move to biometrics and automated entry at major airports as part of the 2026 rollout.

With stamps fading, travelers may turn to keepsakes like postcards, keychains, and magnets to remember their trips.

During the first entry, travelers provide personal and biometric data that is automatically updated at each subsequent crossing.

Spain implements biometric e-gates at major airports by spring, automating the 90-day Schengen rule, while introducing a tourist surcharge and targeting overstays under a UK-style ‘Second Home’ regime.

France spearheads the digital shift with biometric enrollment at hubs, rapid first-entry checks, automated e-gates, and a higher Taxe de Séjour, supported by hundreds of biometric kiosks though with potential peak-period bottlenecks.

Officials frame modernization of border controls as part of a broader trend seen in Australia, Canada, and Japan to speed travel while bolstering security.

Portugal digitizes all border crossings, enforces ETIAS/digital authorization checks for air travel, and aims to speed processing while reducing identity fraud and human trafficking.

The EES, in place since late 2025, records passport data, fingerprints, photos, and passage dates to enhance security and monitor stay durations.

Italy replaces stamps with biometric corridors at Rome and Milan, uses Venice QR codes on peak days, and requires a digital wallet for EES/ETIAS data plus city-access codes; Trevi and Venice introduce small city fees.

Greece completes full digital border coverage at Piraeus Port and Rhodes Airport, swapping stamps for biometrics and adding a Climate Crisis Resilience Fee per night.

French travelers will still encounter passport stamps when abroad, as the EES focuses on non-EU travelers with short Schengen stays.