A series of countries are about to permanently remove stamps on passports.

If you've ever thought of your passport as a scrapbook of your adventures around the world, prepare yourself: Passport stamps are disappearing.

Twenty-nine European countries will begin phasing out physical passport stamps in favor of digital entry systems, starting October 12.

By April 2026, the transition will be complete across Europe, and the rest of the world will follow suit.

For decades, passport stamps have been more than just a badge of entry into a country; they have been a personal trophy, a memento of foreign adventures. But in today’s fast-paced, technologically advanced world, countries are hoping the change will be more efficient.

European Union countries to abolish passport stamps

PHOTO: NYP

Previously, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and Argentina had completely eliminated stamps.

Europe and the US are also moving to biometric and digital entry systems, tracking travelers' movements using facial recognition, fingerprints and digital scans.

The European Union will roll out a system called the Entry/Exit System (EES) on October 12, replacing passport stamps for non-EU travellers entering the Schengen area - a zone comprising 29 countries.

By 10 April 2026, if you arrive in Europe from any country other than the EU, you will be scanned – not stamped. The system will take a photo of your face and fingerprints, and store your entry and exit information digitally.

This means faster border checks, better security and less risk of document fraud. But for many travelers, it also marks the end of a traditional rite of passage.

According to travel experts, the shift is part of a broader global trend: “The world is moving from physical passport stamps to digital systems, all for the sake of increased security, more efficient border controls, and more standardized forms of data collection,” Gabe Saglie, an expert at Travelzoo, told HuffPost .

In other words, it's not about nostalgia, it's about speed, security, and technology.

If you’ve traveled internationally recently, you may have noticed that passport stamps are no longer required when crossing borders. Countries like Australia started doing away with passport stamps in 2012, and e-gates – automated lanes that use biometrics to allow entry – are becoming more common.

In the next 10 years, experts predict that most major countries will switch to digital systems, and traditional passport stamps will become a relic of the past.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/loat-quoc-gia-sap-bo-vinh-vien-dong-dau-len-ho-chieu-185250912100920192.htm