Estonia and Croatia will be among the first countries to implement the EES at all points of entry—including seaports and airports—starting on October 12. Others are taking a gradual, targeted approach by initially launching the biometric system at one airport, as is the case with Spain’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) and Germany’s Düsseldorf Airport (DUS). Spain, for its part, has already poured €83 million (about $97.5 million) into updating some of its systems, according to the country’s interior ministry.
The increasing push for biometric data isn’t just an overseas phenomenon. In the US, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been increasingly rolling out PreCheck Touchless ID lanes, which use facial recognition technology in place of a physical ID check. The program is currently available at 15 airports with four airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.
Similarly, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has expanded its Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) program at several major airports across the US. Not to be confused with the EU’s EES, EPP eliminates the need for traditional passport inspections by replacing them with a face scan—akin to Global Entry, but without the $120 fee and five-year membership, or Clear, without the $209 annual fee. But unlike its European counterpart, EPP can only be used by US citizens returning from an international trip.
Jain says travelers can expect to see biometric systems replace the need for passport stamps at more and more airports around the world. “It’s a convenience to the user and a higher level of security,” he says. “Humans get tired of comparing faces with passport photos, and there is an attention burden for manual inspection of passports.”
The EES system isn’t the only new entry requirement rolling out in Europe next year. Starting in late 2026, travelers from the 59 countries and territories that don’t require a visa to visit Europe will need to receive digital authorization known as the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The ETIAS will be required in the same countries as the EES (in addition to Cyprus), and can be applied for online for a fee of €20 (about $23). The EU says most applications will be approved within a few minutes.
The UK took a similar digital-first approach to border security with the launch of its own Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) earlier this year. The online form is required for travelers visiting for up to six months. There is a £16 (about $22) fee, but it lasts for two years, or until the applicant’s passport expires.
