For decades, the routine of entering Europe has been the exact same: a friendly welcoming, a quick glance at your passport, which pleasing ‘thump’ of a fresh passport stamp. But that whole process will alter in a huge way, and the very first major shift is taking place next month.
Here at Travel Off Course, we’re all about giving you the genuine, on-the-ground intel you need to travel smarter. The European Union has actually been discussing new, modern border systems for several years, producing a ton of confusion. Now, it’s lastly taking place, and it’s kicking off with a complicated, country-by-country rollout.
The big news? Beginning October 12, 2025, Americans heading to the spectacular coastlines of Croatia
will be the first to experience a totally brand-new
entry procedure, one that includes getting fingerprinted and photographed. Initially, What Is This New System? This brand-new process belongs to the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES ). The easiest way to think of it is this: the EES is officially changing passport stamps. Rather of a border officer stamping your passport, you’ll use a self-service kiosk to scan it. On your very first entry into a nation using the system, you will also need to offer your biometric information: particularly, 4 finger prints and a facial photo.
This information is then saved firmly for three years. On subsequent trips, the procedure will be much quicker; you’ll simply need a quick facial scan to confirm your identity versus the profile currently in the system. The objective is to accelerate border crossings and enhance security.
Hang on, Is This The Like ETIAS? This is the most confusing part for travelers, so let’s make it clear:
- No, the EES is entirely different from the ETIAS. Think of it like this: EES (The Kiosk): This is the physical process at the border. It’s the new high-tech system that takes your finger prints and image rather of stamping your passport.
- ETIAS (The Website): This is the online travel authorization you will need to make an application for in the past you leave home. It’s the $7.50 pass that is still set up to release in the last quarter of 2026.
You can’t have one without the other, which is why the rollout has been so complicated. The ETIAS system can’t introduce up until the EES infrastructure is working.
What To Anticipate in Croatia Beginning October 12 Croatia’s Ministry of Interior has actually confirmed it is officially triggering its system, making it the very first European nation to do so.
If you are flying into Zagreb or Dubrovnik, or crossing another global border into Croatia after this date, you will be directed to the brand-new EES kiosks. You’ll scan your passport, offer your fingerprints and picture, and address a couple of concerns on the screen. It’s a modification, but it’s developed to be a straightforward procedure.
What About The Rest Of Europe? This is where the”confusing rollout” is available in. If you fly into significant airports like Paris(CDG), Rome (FCO), or Madrid(MAD) this fall, you will probably see the brand-new EES kiosks already installed. Nevertheless, they are not yet mandatory for all tourists.
For now, these other countries are adhering to the plan of a coordinated, Schengen-wide launch in the first half of 2026.