If you’re traveling to Croatia soon and you’re a U.S. citizen, you might notice that things will be different when you enter the country.
Starting on Oct. 12, 2025, Croatia will be the first European Union country to implement the Entry/Exit System, or EES, in the European Union, according to TravelOffPath.
According to the European Union’s official Entry/Exit System (EES) website, the system will be enacted in all EU countries by April 10, 2026.
Here’s how the new system will affect you if you plan to travel to Croatia.
Why does the EES border system require your fingerprints?
The EES border system is designed to replace a traditional passport stamp.
When you first enter a country using the EES system, you will scan your passport at a self-service kiosk and provide biometric data, such as your fingerprints and a scan of your face, according to the EES website.
The information is kept for three years, during which you can pass through borders with a simple face scan.
How is this different from the ETIAS?
The ETIAS, or the European Travel Information and Authorization System, is an entirely separate border security process from the EES that is not expected to go into place until the last quarter of 2026.
According to the ETIAS website, this process to enter the EU requires paying $7.50 for an authorization that will allow for entry into 30 European countries, including France, Germany and Italy.
Croatia had 260,000 visitors from America in the first half of 2025, and it was a 16% increase in visitors up from 2024, according to Croatia Week.
The State Department issued its lowest travel advisory for Croatia at “Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.”
This European country is requiring Americans to get fingerprinted soon
