Will Traditional Passports Become a Thing of the Past?

SadaNews - The act of handing over a passport to a border officer and receiving a stamp indicating entry into a new country may soon become a thing of the past.

In October 2025, the European Union will begin rolling out the Entry/Exit System (EES), a new digital tool for border management that records biometric data alongside the entry and exit dates of non-European travelers entering and leaving the Schengen Area.

Once this system is fully implemented in April 2026, digital checks will replace the manual passport stamps, making the process more efficient and secure, marking a significant shift in how certain travelers cross European borders, according to a report by the BBC, which was reviewed by "Al Arabiya Business".

Biometric data refers to unique physical characteristics of each individual that help to quickly and securely confirm their identity. Biometric identification technology encompasses various methods, including fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, eye scanning, and voice recognition.

This change is part of a broader global trend. Countries such as Australia, Japan, and Canada are already using biometric data at border crossings, while the United States has announced plans to expand similar systems.

As digital processing becomes the standard, this may gradually put an end to a traditional aspect of travel: collecting passport stamps.

Patrick Bixby, a professor at Arizona State University and author of the book "License to Travel: A Cultural History of the Passport", stated: "The act of collecting passport stamps dates back to the medieval or Renaissance times... A wax seal would be placed on letters of dispatch from the sovereign in Europe. That is the beginning, at least from my perspective".

While travel documents - and stamps of various kinds - have existed for centuries, modern passports only began to take shape in the early 20th century. After World War I, the League of Nations helped establish formal standards for passports with increased border scrutiny.

By the 1950s, the tradition of acquiring passport stamps, a modern tradition, became a symbol of freedom of movement and social status, as the world entered the "golden age" of travel, when air travel became accessible to the general public.

Bixby said: "It was really after World War II and the resumption of international travel that stamps began to acquire the kind of sentimental value they hold now".

Relying entirely on biometric data may raise concerns for some individuals regarding digital privacy, as some travelers may be worried about the collection of biometric data, potentially affecting their travel habits.