Americans traveling to Europe will have fingerprints scanned under new rule. What we know
FILE-A passenger places four fingers on a scanner of the 'Smart Border' border management system as it captures her fingerprints at the border checkpoint at an airport in Frankfurt, Germany. (Photo by Christoph Schmidt/picture alliance via Getty Imag
American tourists traveling to Europe will have their fingerprints scanned and their picture taken when entering most countries under new guidelines being rolled out next month.
What can Americans expect with the new travel Entry/Exit System?
Why you should care:
Starting Oct. 12, European countries will use a new automated Entry/Exit System (EES) and Americans can expect to have their fingerprints and facial images scanned and gathered and stored digitally at European borders. Right now, the fingerprints of children under 12 years old are not scanned, even if they are subject to the EES.
Under the new requirements, American tourists must provide information from their passports, including their name and date of birth. The new system will also collect when and where tourists are entering and leaving the Schengen Area.
RELATED: Fewer Americans want to visit Europe this summer, survey suggests
According to the State Department, Americans with a valid U.S. passport can stay up to 90 days during any 180-day period. Additionally, travelers have to wait an extra 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area.
The European Union explained on its website that the new system is being introduced over a six-month period and will eventually supplant passport stamps.
RELATED: Traveling to Europe in 2025? What to know about overtourism
This system applies to Americans and all visitors from outside Europe’s Schengen Area, which is a collection of countries that allows individuals in the zone to travel across borders without going through customs checks.
The European Union noted that visitors who refuse to provide their biometric data through the Entry/Exit System will be denied entry into the territory of the European Countries.
Which European countries are participating in the entry/exit system?
By the numbers:
Twenty-nine European countries will use a new automated Entry/Exit System (EES) and they are listed below:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia (Czech Republic)
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstei
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the State Department and European Union websites. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.