COLOMBO :For many travelers, a stamp in their passport is an official souvenir of a visit to a new country, and a passport full of unique stamps reflects a lifetime of adventures. Unfortunately, the passport stamp is on its way out. That little travel trophy is being replaced by digital systems designed to be faster, safer and more efficient.
Europe is leading the charge, and starting October 12, 29 EU countries will begin rolling out a new Entry/Exit System that will eventually replace stamps with biometrics. By April 2026, facial images, fingerprints and digital records will fully replace the ritual of the border officer’s stamp. It’s billed as modernization, but for many travelers, it’s the end of an era.
