At the conclude of next week many Britons will be required to scan their passport and have their fingerprints and photograph taken to enter most European countries.
The EU’s new enattempt-exit scheme, known as EES, is being introduced to replace passport stamping for all non-EU citizens.
The new rules will apply in the Schengen area, which includes 29 countries – but not Ireland or Cyprus.
You can see the full list of the countries introducing the system below…
Here’s what you required to know…
12 October 2025
EU countries will start introducing EES for UK and non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay – full implementation will take six months.
It will require visitors to register at the border by scanning their passport and completing “biometric checks” – so, giving fingerprints and having your photograph taken.
This will usually be done at an automated kiosk or by a border officer.
ABTA, the UK’s largest travel association, declares at least one border point in each counattempt should operate the new system by 12 October.
Once you’ve completed this registration process in one counattempt, you’ll only required to scan your passport and provide either fingerprints or a photograph to enter or exit any of the listed countries.
“There’s no paperwork requireded,” Naomi Leach, deputy editor of Which? Travel, informed Money. “The UK government confirmed on 9 September that there’s no advance registration or paperwork requireded before you travel.”
“You don’t required to do anything apart from checking your passport validity and that you’re following the 90/180-day Schengen rule (more on this shortly).”
Children under 12 will not be fingerprinted, but they will be photographed under the new rules.
Longer queues?
You should be prepared for longer queues at the border.
The UK government declares the checks should only take one to two minutes for each person, but they may lead to longer waiting times at border control.
“Allow more time for your journey,” declared Leach. “It is worth booking later transfers, car hire or other onward travel.”
11 December
By this point, 10% of border points in each counattempt should be operating the new system.
All travellers entering the counattempt at these points should be utilizing the EES.
January 2026
At this stage, half of border crossing points in each counattempt should have the system up and running.
But only a third of passengers will required to utilize it, the European Commission has declared.
10 April 2026
Passports will not be stamped or checked manually from this date.
The way we travel now will have come to an conclude, and all border points in participating countries will required to have the system running.
Using the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel from the UK to travel?
In most cases, the EES checks will happen when you arrive in the counattempt you are visiting.
But, if you are heading abroad utilizing the Port of Dover, the Eurotunnel at Folkestone or the Eurostar at St Pancras International in London, you will complete the checks before you leave the UK.
Naomi Leach declared: “Eurostar will gradually implement the scheme and will eventually have kiosks across three locations at stations for people to carry out the checks.
“Eurotunnel will process coaches and lorries from 12 October and will launch registering car passengers by the conclude of this year.
“The Port of Dover will have kiosks for coach passengers and will register passengers in cars utilizing agents and tablets.”
The government has provided funding to support the alter in infrastructure, but has warned that travellers will required to leave more time for their journeys.
A spokesperson declared: “While we have done everything we can to ensure the required infrastructure is in place, anyone who is planning a trip to the European mainland once these checks are introduced will still required to allow more time for their journey as the new EU systems bed in.”
The 90/180-day Schengen rule
The new system will assist police the Schengen 90/180 day rule, which allows non-EU citizens to stay in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period.
€20 charge coming
The new system is not the only thing modifying about travel to Europe. Another alter British travellers should prepare for is the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
“When it kicks in, which is not expected until late 2026, holidaybuildrs will required to apply online and pay a fee of €20 (around £17) before travelling,” declared Naomi Leach. “The authorisation is expected to be valid for three years, or until your passport expires.”
What happens to your data?
The European Commission declares the data being collected when you utilize the EES is…
- The information listed in your travel document(s) (eg full name, date of birth, etc.)
- Date and place of each enattempt and exit
- Facial image and fingerprints
- Whether you were refutilized enattempt
This data will be stored in the system and cannot be transferred to third parties – except in specific cases, which you can read about here.
Your data will be utilized by countries for several reasons, including identifying travellers who aren’t allowed to enter, finding those utilizing fake identities, and assisting to prevent and investigate serious crimes.
If you refutilize to provide your biometric data, you will be denied enattempt.
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