Americans traveling to Europe in the future will have their fingerprints scanned and pictures taken under the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System.
Americans who are traveling to Europe will soon have to have their fingerprints scanned and pictures taken when arriving in countries like Italy and Spain under new regulations that are being enforced throughout the continent next month.
These new policies will apply to Americans and all visitors from outside of Europe’s Schengen Area, which is a group of nations that allows people in the zone to travel across borders freely without needing to endure customs checks.
The policy is being introduced as the European Union’s Entry/Exit System. Those who refuse to provide either pieces of biometric data will be refused entry to the country of their choice and need to return home.
CBS News reports that the EU stated this new system will be gradually implemented throughout the nations over a six-month period starting October 12th. This will also eventually replace passport stamps.
Additionally, Americans will have to provide details from their passports such as their full name and date of birth, and the system will collect when and where they’re specifically entering and leaving the Schengen Area. The State Department posted on social media to give foreign travelers specifically in the US a heads up on this new policy.
“U.S. citizens traveling to most European countries should expect new automated border checks and to have their biodata digitally collected upon arrival and departure.”
The travelers who refuse to provide their biometric data will not only be denied entry to the region, but will also keep track of their identification. Authorities have stated that fingerprints of children younger than 12-years-old will not be collected.
The EU has stated that these new policy changes are being implemented in order to increase security in the Schengen Area. This system will greatly reduce the amount of individuals who are staying in areas longer than they’re allowed to.
Americans that possess passports that are valid for at least six months can generally stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days over a 180-day period, according to the State Department. People who wish to extend their stay or become employed in Europe will likely need a visa from the nation they’re visiting.
The EU stated that people’s personal data will be kept in a file for about three years after their departure, and if no exit record was recorded the file will be kept for five years. Exemptions will be made available for family members of EU citizens and some non-EU nationals.
Alex Sundby, senior editor for CBS News, reported that this new system for the EU has been in the works for about 10 years in response to Europe experiencing mass migration of individuals fleeing Africa and the Middle East.
“The expected unveiling of the changes comes on the heels of President Trump’s criticism of European leaders’ immigration policies in his address at the U.N. General Assembly in New York.”
The system itself will be used in 29 countries, most within the European Union. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland will also be implementing the new requirements, and two EU members, Cyprus and Ireland, will not be utilizing the new policies.
The nations that will be using the system are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Since the UK officially separated from the EU in 2020 after 47 years, it won’t be using the new system. However, the UK started requiring international travelers to get an electronic travel authorization earlier this year in order to visit the nation, including Northern Ireland.
For that particular authorization, individuals need to pay around 16 pounds, $22, and it will remain valid for two years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever occurs first.
The State Department also said that Americans won’t need to receive authorization if they’re transferring through the UK to get to another country and won’t need to pass through border control. For unsure travelers, it’s recommended to check in with their airline before their trip to ensure they have all the facts and can travel properly.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
