Traveling to Europe next year? You’ll need to scan your fingers & face

Next year, traveling to Europe could look a whole lot different for non-EU citizens.

A new entry and exit system (EES) will go into effect in May of 2023. The new process will require travelers to not only present their passports but also to scan their fingerprints and face. The data will then be stored for future reference.

The EES system will also replace time-consuming passport stamps. Instead, the system will automatically track when someone has entered the country and monitor if they have overstayed their visit.

The new rules will apply to visitors entering the Schengen zone — comprised of 22 EU countries, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland — as well as non-EU citizens. EU citizens traveling within the Schengen area will not be affected.

It may seem like a big change but the US currently has a similar process that tracks fingerprint and face data digitally. It’s not clear how the system will be put into effect or if it will take longer to get through the airport, but it doesn’t seem like travelers will have much to worry about unless they plan on overstaying their visa.