From 12 October 2025, the European Union will roll out a new Entry/Exit System (EES) at all external Schengen borders. It’s one of the biggest changes for British travellers since Brexit, replacing passport stamps with digital checks that use facial and fingerprint recognition.

The aim? To make border crossings faster in the long run, while improving security and keeping better track of how long visitors spend in Europe.

What Is the EES?

The Entry/Exit System is an automated record of when and where non-EU nationals enter and leave the Schengen Area. Instead of border officers stamping passports, the system will collect:

• A facial image

• Four fingerprints

• Passport details

Your information will be stored securely and used to calculate your time in the Schengen Zone — helping you stay within the 90 days in any 180-day period limit.

Who Will It Affect?

The new rules apply to:

• UK nationals and other non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens visiting the Schengen Area for business or leisure

• Travellers entering or leaving any of the 29 EES countries (all Schengen states plus Bulgaria and Romania from 2025)

It won’t apply if you’re travelling to Ireland or Cyprus, which sit outside the Schengen Zone.

Children under 12 won’t need fingerprints taken, though a quick photo will still be required.

Full list of EES countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

When and How You’ll Register

Your first registration will happen the next time you enter the Schengen Area after 12 October 2025:

• By air: You’ll register on arrival at your EU airport.

• By train or car: Travellers using Eurostar (St Pancras), Eurotunnel (Folkestone), or the Port of Dover will register before leaving the UK at new EES kiosks.

That first check will take a few minutes longer than usual, but once your biometric details are saved, future crossings should be much smoother.

What to Expect as a Traveller

A few practical tips to keep things easy:

• Allow extra time for your journey during the early weeks of the rollout — especially at Eurostar, Dover, or Folkestone.

• Bring the right documents: a valid passport (with at least three months left after your trip), travel plans, and accommodation details.

• Be mindful of the 90/180-day rule — the system will automatically track how long you’ve stayed.

• Families: Children under 12 are photo-only; those aged 12–17 will have both fingerprints and a photo taken.

• Cruise travellers: Cruises starting and ending outside Schengen are mostly exempt, but if you disembark and continue overland, EES checks may apply.

What Happens to Your Data

All biometric data will be stored securely for three years — or up to five years if you overstay. The information is used only for border control and law-enforcement purposes under EU data-protection laws.

What’s Next: ETIAS in 2026

EES is separate from ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), expected to launch in late 2026. ETIAS will require UK travellers to apply online for pre-travel authorisation before visiting the Schengen Area, with a small fee (currently expected to be around €20).

In short:
The new Entry/Exit System means your first trip to Europe after 12 October 2025 may take a little longer at the border — but once you’re registered, your future travels will be quicker and more secure.