From 12 October 2025, every traveller from the UK and other non-EU countries entering or leaving the Schengen Area will be subject to biometric checks under the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES).
The system will register facial images, fingerprints and passport data each time a person crosses an EU external border. The European Commission confirmed the start date in August 2025, stating that the scheme is designed to improve border security, curb illegal migration and speed up legitimate travel — reports The WP Times, citing the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs.

What the Entry/Exit System actually is

The EES is an automated IT platform that will replace the current manual passport-stamping process at Schengen borders. Instead of a stamp, each traveller’s information — full name, passport type, biometric data, date and place of entry and exit — will be stored in a secure central database managed by eu-LISA, the EU agency responsible for large-scale security IT systems.

The system will also log any refusals of entry. EU officials say this digital record will make it easier to identify travellers who exceed their authorised 90-day stay in any 180-day period, as well as detect document or identity fraud.

Who will be affected

For British citizens, the new checks will apply to short-term stays in the Schengen Area — whether for holidays, business or transit — and will affect all travel by air, land or sea.
The system does not apply to:

  • EU, EEA or Swiss nationals,
  • holders of long-stay national visas or residence permits issued by a Schengen country,
  • travel to Ireland or Cyprus, which remain outside the Schengen and EES framework.

Each traveller’s biometric profile will remain valid for three years; after that, fingerprints and photos must be recaptured.

Where the new system will apply

EES covers 29 European countries participating in the Schengen Area:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, 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.
Only Ireland and Cyprus are excluded.

How the process will work

On your first trip after 12 October 2025, you will be required to:

  1. Present your passport for scanning.
  2. Have your face photographed and fingerprints recorded (children under 12 will be photo-only).
  3. Wait while the system creates a personal digital record in the EES database.

Future crossings will typically need only a facial scan or document verification, significantly reducing the time required once the initial data capture is complete.

At UK departure points, registration will happen before boarding:

  • London St Pancras (Eurostar) – self-service EES kiosks before security.
  • Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal – registration kiosks before boarding.
  • Port of Dover – control booths equipped for EES checks at Western Docks.
    Air travellers will complete the procedure on arrival at the first airport within the Schengen Area.

Will the new checks slow down travel

Initially, yes. Border authorities and transport operators anticipate delays at busy crossings such as Dover, Folkestone and St Pancras during the first months of implementation.
The EU stresses that once the system becomes routine, it will shorten overall processing times and make travel more efficient.

British ports are installing hundreds of new biometric kiosks, while France has expanded passport-control areas at Calais, Dunkirk and Gare du Nord. Travellers are still advised to allow additional time for their journeys this autumn.

Why EES is being introduced

According to the European Commission, EES is part of the EU’s Security Union Strategy and supports both the European Agenda on Security and the European Agenda on Migration.
The regulation establishing the system — Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 — was adopted in November 2017 and entered into force in December 2017.
The goal is to strengthen control of Europe’s external borders, prevent over-staying and cross-border crime, and enable more reliable data-sharing among member states.

Data protection and retention

EES data will be stored for three years after a traveller’s last recorded exit, or five years if there is a suspected overstay.
All information is protected under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EES legal framework. Access is strictly limited to national border authorities and Europol for clearly defined security purposes.

Official sources and further information

Key takeaways for UK travellers

  • EES starts on 12 October 2025 across the Schengen Area.
  • Applies to 29 countries (Ireland and Cyprus excluded).
  • First entry requires photo and fingerprint capture.
  • No fee or online pre-registration.
  • Expect queues in autumn 2025 at UK-EU border points.
  • After the first registration, crossings will be faster.

While the new Entry/Exit System marks one of the biggest shifts in European border control in recent decades, officials believe the long-term benefits will outweigh the temporary delays expected during its rollout. Once initial registration is completed, travellers should see faster, more reliable crossings and fewer administrative errors. For the EU, the system represents more than a technological upgrade — it is part of a broader strategy to make European travel both safer and more efficient in an era of increasing global mobility.

Read about the life of Westminster and Pimlico district, London and the world. 24/7 news with fresh and useful updates on culture, business, technology and city life: President Zelensky Meets Princess Anne in Kyiv: Key UK Royal Visit to Ukraine Since Independence.