International travel

Going on holiday anytime soon? Many countries will take your fingerprints at the border and you'll be denied entry if you refuse.

Check this list if you're considering going anywhere. This is only for visa-free travel - if you require a visa, you will almost certainly need to get your fingerprints taken regardless of the country's status on this list.

Country	Fingerprints all visitors?
United States	⚠️ Yes, has been taking the fingerprints of everyone entering on a non-American passport since 2004.
European Union (Schengen area - excludes Ireland)	⚠️ Yes, has been taking the fingerprints of everyone entering on a non-EU passport since 2025. If you're thinking about getting an EU passport to avoid this, note that most EU/Schengen passports have to contain your fingerprints. See European Union for more info.
United Kingdom	Does not take fingerprints for normal visa-free entry.
Ireland	Does not take fingerprints for normal visa-free entry.
Japan	⚠️ Everyone I've asked who has visited Japan has had their fingerprints taken. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-BIS
China	❓ Supposedly paused for visa-free visitors until December 2026. But probably not somewhere to visit if you care strongly about avoiding biometrics. https://visasnews.com/en/visa-for-china-fingerprint-exemption-extended-until-december-31-2026/