From Sunday 12 October, the European Union will begin phasing in a biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) that changes how non-EU nationals, including British visitors, are processed at the bloc’s external borders.
The system replaces manual passport stamping with a digital record of each traveller’s entry and exit, using fingerprints and a facial image captured on first arrival. Full implementation is planned by 10 April 2026.
What is changing
Under EES, first-time entrants to the Schengen area will scan their passport and enrol biometrics at a kiosk or desk. On departure, border officials will verify the traveller’s record against the system to confirm compliance with the 90-days-in-any-180-day rule for short stays.
After initial enrolment, subsequent crossings require only facial verification. The EU’s objective is to modernise external border management, deter identity fraud, and detect overstays.
The checks will apply at international airports, seaports, land crossings and major rail terminals serving Schengen states. Ireland and Cyprus are not part of Schengen and are outside EES.
How it will work in the UK–France corridor
Because juxtaposed controls operate on UK soil for Channel crossings, EES registration for relevant journeys will happen before departure, conducted by French border police at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel Folkestone terminal and London St Pancras International (Eurostar).
The rollout is staged: from 12 October only freight and coach traffic at Dover and Folkestone will be checked, with passenger vehicles to follow in November at Dover and by year-end at Eurotunnel. Eurostar will introduce the new procedures gradually.
UK government guidance advises allowing extra time as the new process beds in. At London St Pancras and at Eurotunnel Folkestone, travellers will be directed to designated pre-registration areas or kiosks before passport control.
Will it slow the border?
EU and operator statements indicate a phased launch to minimise disruption, with the option for border staff to suspend biometric enrolment temporarily if queues become excessive. The most significant real-world test is expected during Easter 2026 and the summer peak, when many families will be travelling for the first time post-introduction. Industry groups representing hauliers have nonetheless warned of possible bottlenecks at busy times during the transition.
Who is affected
EES covers all non-EU nationals crossing into the Schengen area for short stays, including citizens of visa-exempt countries such as the UK, the United States, Australia and others. Children under 12 are enrolled with a photograph but without fingerprints. Travellers with EU residence permits issued by a Schengen state are not processed under the short-stay rules.
Data and retention
The system creates a digital entry/exit record linked to the traveller’s biometrics. Public guidance indicates that biometric data are retained for a defined period; media briefings have reported a three-year retention window for standard records.
What happens next: ETIAS in late 2026
EES is a precursor to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), scheduled to launch in the last quarter of 2026. ETIAS will require visa-exempt travellers to obtain an authorisation prior to travel by submitting an online application with basic personal details and answering security-related questions.
The European Commission has set the ETIAS fee at €20, increased from the original €7. The authorisation will be valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first; some age groups will be exempt from the fee.
ETIAS Travel Authorisation Fee Raised to €20 Ahead of 2026 Launch
Practical points for travellers
First trip after 12 October: allow additional time for enrolment, especially on busy routes such as Dover–Calais, Eurotunnel Folkestone–Coquelles and London St Pancras–Paris/Brussels. Check operator instructions for pre-registration areas and kiosk locations.
Subsequent trips: once enrolled, expect faster processing using facial verification; passport stamping will be phased out as EES becomes universal.
Short-stay limits: the automated record will track time spent in the Schengen area against the 90/180-day rule, improving detection of overstays. Plan itineraries accordingly.
Looking ahead to ETIAS: when ETIAS opens, apply online before booking travel close to departure. Keep in mind the €20 fee and three-year validity.
The Commission set 12 October 2025 as the EES start date by decision on 30 July 2025. Travellers should monitor carrier and government updates as the phased deployment proceeds to April 2026, and prepare for ETIAS requirements later in 2026.
