Travelers heading to Europe will soon face a major change at border crossings. Beginning October 12, the European Union will start rolling out its new Entry and Exit System (EES), replacing traditional passport stamps with fingerprint and face scans. The program will launch with a “progressive start” at select airports and land borders before gradually expanding across the continent. It will modernize border checks by digitally recording entries and exits, making the process faster and more efficient. For first-time travelers after the EES launch, passport control officers will collect personal data by scanning fingerprints and/or taking a facial photo.