Entry/Exit System will require UK nationals travelling Schengen area countries to complete a registration process including the provision of biometric info and may lead to travel delays, government has advised
UK citizens planning travel to the rest of Europe have been advised to expect the European Union to introduce in about six months’ time a new digital registration process for the provision of individuals’ biometric data.
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which was originally due to be introduced in November, is a new regime that will “replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU”, according to online public advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
“If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints or a photo, when you arrive,” citizens are advised.
While a precise implementation date has yet to be confirmed by the EU, the FCDO instructs UK nationals that “EES is expected to start in October 2025”.
“The European Union will inform about the specific start date of the EES before its launch,” the advice adds.
The Schengen area comprises 25 of the 27 EU member states – excepting Ireland and Cyprus – as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Internal travel across the bloc is not subject to the usual border-control processes.
UK citizens expecting to travel to one of these 29 countries in the latter months of this year are advised by government that the creation of the new digital record may cause delays to their journeys. But, once it has been established, this data can be used for validation for several years before it needs to be renewed.
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“When EES is introduced, you will need to create a digital record on your first visit to the Schengen area at the port or airport on arrival”, the FCDO advice says. “You will be required to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths. You will not need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country. If you are flying to a country in the Schengen area, you may experience longer queue times when you arrive at your destination.”
The online guidance adds: “At some ports and international stations (Dover, Eurotunnel and St Pancras), there may be increased wait times while EES registration is completed before passengers leave the UK. If you are travelling through one of these stations, you should check with your travel operator to find out whether EES will affect your journey. Your digital record is valid for three years. If you enter the Schengen area again during this time, you will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border, when you enter and exit.”
The FCDO states that “EES is designed to improve border security within the EU and its neighbouring countries” and “will automate border control checks to help the EU stop visitors overstaying”.
Beyond the imminent introduction of EES, the broader European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to be implemented in late 2026. Once ETIAS is in effect, travellers visiting Schengen countries on a UK passport are advised that “you will need to apply for authorisation to enter… [and] will need to provide personal information and details about your trip, and pay a €7 fee, as part of the authorisation process”.
The FCDO adds that it has engaged with EU counterparts and has provided a collective tally of more than £10m to support the implementation of about 175 dedicated kiosks across Eurostar stations and the Port of Dover. It is hoped that the new border process will add no more than five minutes to travellers’ journeys.
“The UK government has been working closely with the European Commission, member states, local authorities and the travel industry to prepare ports for EES,” the advice says. “The government is supporting ports and carriers to ensure EES registration is simple for people travelling to the Schengen area.”
