Europe stopped stamping passports this summer — a machine counts the 90 days now — Woody Magazine, Aug. 31, 2026
Europe stopped stamping passports this summer — a machine counts the 90 days now — Woody Magazine, Aug. 31, 2026 Woody Magazine We write the things that aren't news Aug. 31, 2026 (Mon.) Travel Woody Magazine Europe stopped stamping passports this summer — a machine counts the 90 days now The first peak season without ink ends today. A story about the number a stamp was supposed to keep, the queues that doubled, and a switch due to expire in six days. In Three Lines Since April 10, 29 European countries have replaced the passport stamp for non-EU visitors with fingerprints and a face scan. This summer was the system's first peak season. Peak waits at Frankfurt doubled, from 60 minutes last July to 120 this July. But border officers held a legal switch that let them pause fingerprinting when lines grew, and that switch is set to expire on September 6. ETIAS, the 20-euro pre-travel permit people keep confusing with this system, has not started and has no...