Traveling to the EU after October 12, 2025? Check out the EU's New Entry/Exit System.
The European Union is set to introduce its new automated Entry/Exit System (EES), designed to track border crossings for non-EU visitors. This long-anticipated system, aimed at enhancing security and streamlining entry and exit procedures, will begin its phased rollout from October 12, 2025.
The EES will require most non-EU travelers to register their passport details and biometric data upon their first entry into the EU. This information will be stored and cross-referenced with various databases, adding an extra layer of security. A key benefit of the EES is the expectation that it will make border crossings faster and more efficient than current manual checks, ultimately eliminating the need for passport stamps.
While initially delayed, the system is now being implemented gradually, acknowledging that some member countries are still finalizing their preparations. Here is what you need to know to prepare for these changes.
What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is designed to digitally track when the visitors from outside the EU enter and leave the Schengen area, replacing traditional passport stamps. Currently, non-EU citizens can spend up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the EU without a visa. The EES will automate this tracking to ensure this limit is respected and to boost border security.
Here's what it means for you:
When you visit any of the 29 participating countries, which include most EU nations plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, for the first time after October 12, you’ll need to register your passport information and biometric data. This typically involves providing either your fingerprints or a photograph.
This data will usually be stored for three years. It is important to note that if you decline to provide this information, you will be denied entry.
What Happens After Your First Visit?
On future visits, your information will be checked against the details you previously registered, likely using a facial scan. The EU says you will only need to provide your full data again in rare circumstances. It is important to note that the EES will not be used in Ireland or Cyprus, where manual border checks will continue.
Where Will the Checks Take Place?
For most travelers, this process will occur at airports upon arrival in the EU. However, there are a few locations on British soil where EU border controls are located, known as “juxtaposed” controls. These are at the Dover ferry port, London St Pancras (for Eurostar), and Folkestone (for LeShuttle). If you travel from these locations, you will register your details through the EES before you even depart.
A New App is on the Way
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) is developing an app that will allow you to register your details before traveling. However, you will still need to have your fingerprints taken at the border, and it is not expected that the app will be ready for the initial launch of the EES.
When is the EES start date?
The EES is set to launch on October 12, 2025. However, not all countries will implement it at once. Instead, it will be introduced in phases, with all participating nations expected to be fully on board within six months of the October launch. During this transition period, passports will still be stamped, even if your biometric data is collected.
Where is the EES required?
The EES will be implemented across 25 of the 27 EU member states (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden). It will also apply to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, as these countries are part of the border-free Schengen area.
Ireland and Cyprus are exceptions and will continue to use manual border checks.
Within the UK, you’ll encounter EES gates at specific locations where pre-travel passport checks occur: the Port of Dover, London St Pancras (for Eurostar passengers), and Folkestone (for LeShuttle services).
What to expect as a traveler?
In the long run, the EES is designed to make your trips to Europe much smoother and quicker, potentially even freeing up space in your passport by eliminating stamps!
However, be prepared for some initial delays, especially on your first visit after October 12. This is because you will need to provide your fingerprints and have a photo taken for the system. Good news for families: children under 12 will not need to give fingerprints.
It is also worth noting that some non-EU nationals will be exempt from using the EES. This includes those with a residence card and an immediate relation to an EU national, individuals traveling for specific reasons like research, study, or training, and those holding residence permits, long-stay visas, or valid local border traffic permits.
What This Means for British Travelers?
If you are a British national, here is how the EES might affect your future trips:
- Expect Potential Delays: Be prepared for longer queues at border crossings, especially during peak travel times. The new biometric checks are expected to increase the time it takes to process each passenger.
- Biometrics Are Key: You will need to provide fingerprints and facial scans when you enter the Schengen area, even if you have done it before.
- Mind the 90/180-Day Rule: It is more important than ever to keep track of your time in the Schengen Area. Remember, you can only stay for 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa.
- Impact on Ferry and Channel Tunnel: Travel through the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel could see significant changes and potential delays for both passengers and freight.
- Consider Advance Registration: To potentially speed things up, look out for opportunities to register some of your data in advance using dedicated equipment or mobile apps, if they become available.
How the UK is preparing for EES?
The UK government has been actively collaborating with the European Commission, member states, local authorities, and the travel industry to get ports ready for the EES. Their goal is to ensure the registration process is as simple as possible for everyone traveling to the Schengen area.
This support includes significant funding, with Eurostar, Eurotunnel, and the Port of Dover each receiving £3.5 million to invest in registration kiosks and necessary infrastructure.
Here is what these key travel hubs are doing:
- Eurostar anticipates a quick and easy EES registration process, planning to install 50 kiosks across three stations.
- Eurotunnel will have over 100 kiosks and estimates that EES checks will only add just over 5 minutes to journey times.
- The Port of Dover is setting up 24 kiosks for coach passengers and will use agents with tablets to register passengers in cars, aiming for a smooth process.
What to expect at European airports?
According to the Foreign Office, travelers will also submit their details at dedicated booths upon arrival at European airports before heading through immigration. In theory, this should be a smoother process at larger airports, as many already have the technology to handle biometric data. However, be aware that smaller European hubs might not have the same capacity, which could lead to longer queues.
What to expect while traveling by Cruise?
If you’re planning a cruise, how the EES affects you depends on your itinerary:
Cruises starting and ending outside the Schengen area (e.g., from a UK port) will generally be exempt from EES checks, even if your itinerary includes day trips into the Schengen zone.
However, if you disembark your cruise within the Schengen area and continue your journey by other means (like traveling to another port or destination), you will need to complete EES checks when you leave the ship.
It is always a good idea to check with your cruise operator or travel agent for specific advice on how the EES might affect your particular journey.
Reference
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