Kenyan travellers heading to Europe will now be required to provide biometric data instead of receiving traditional manual passport stamps. This will be a shift on the European Union country’s new entry system designed to enhance security and streamline travel processes.
Starting October 12, 2025, Kenyans must prepare for this change to avoid delays and ensure smooth passage through European borders.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) replaces traditional passport stamping with biometric registration, thereby enhancing border security by enabling the real-time monitoring of travellers’ movements, a dispatch explained.
Over the next six months, the system will be phased in across 29 European countries, including the entire European Union bloc, with full implementation expected by April 2026.
Officials emphasise that the new system is designed to make travel more transparent and more efficient while helping to prevent overstaying and unauthorised entry.
In practice, the system will affect all non-EU citizens, including Kenyan passport holders visiting the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
The new data collection system will affect all travellers, whether they are travelling for work, leisure or to visit family.
First-time arrivals will need to provide biometric data, a facial image and fingerprints, which will be stored alongside personal and travel information such as passport details, entry and exit points, and the duration of stay. For children under 12, only facial images will be taken.
The change is significant for Kenyan travellers.
Kenya is one of the countries whose citizens require a Schengen visa to enter most European Union countries that signed on a common external border. While the visa process itself will not change, the way in which Kenyan visitors are checked at the border will, a statement said.
Each entry will now be digitally logged, making it easier for the authorities to monitor how long visitors stay and ensure that they respect the conditions of their visas.
According to the official website of the European Union, the EES is expected to be fully implemented by April 10, 2026. This means that, by this date, the data of all non-EU travellers entering or leaving the Schengen zone will be captured digitally.
“Your travel document data and other personal information, including your entry and exit dates, will be collected and registered electronically in the system. This procedure will facilitate your border crossing,” an EU statement said.
“If you overstay the permitted period in European countries using the EES, the system will identify this and record the information.”
Most of the data collection at the border is set to be handled by passport control officers. In some locations, self-service kiosks or mobile apps will be made available to help travellers register their data more quickly.
The broader effect is a shift towards transparency: overstaying visas will become more difficult, and digital records will provide a clearer travel history for each visitor. Although the initial months may be challenging for passengers at busy hubs such as Paris, Frankfurt or Amsterdam, EU officials anticipate a more streamlined experience in the long term.
Self-service kiosks or smartphone apps will be made available in select places to enable passengers to register their data more quickly.
Kenyans and other travellers are advised to enquire about the procedures that will be implemented at their particular point of entry by contacting their airline or embassy before their trip.
About the Author
