Institutions

Digital Schengen Visa 2026: end of passport stamps, biometrics and online platform for Moroccans

14 April 2026·2 min read·Source: LesMRE

The EES entry/exit system goes live in 2026. No more passport stamps, fingerprints and facial recognition at borders. What MRE and their families need to know.

End of passport stamps

Crossing Schengen borders is changing in 2026. The EES (Entry/Exit System) replaces manual stamps with digital registration of every entry and exit. Moroccan travellers will need to provide fingerprints and undergo facial or iris recognition when crossing European borders.

This system applies to all third-country nationals, including Schengen visa holders and MRE travelling on a Moroccan passport. It automatically calculates the authorised stay (90 days within 180 days) and alerts in case of overstay.

Towards a fully digital visa

Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita confirmed on 1 April 2026 in Rabat that the European Commission is preparing a single online visa application platform, with full implementation expected by 2028. Key features include online document submission, real-time tracking, and no more passport immobilisation during processing.

The Schengen visa eligibility criteria remain unchanged. The reform targets the process (digitalisation), not the conditions.

What this means for MRE

MRE travelling between their country of residence and Morocco with a Moroccan passport are directly affected by EES. In practice: biometric scanning at airports and ports, automatic stay calculation, and no more manual stamping queues.

MRE holding a European residence permit will be exempt from EES in their country of residence.

Key figures

•606,800 Schengen visa applications by Moroccans in 2024 (4th worldwide)
•300,000+ visas issued by France to Moroccans in 2025 (+20% vs 2024)
•20.1% refusal rate in 2024 (global average: 14.8%)
•EUR 90 visa fee since June 2024

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