UK tourists will soon face new rules to enter EU countries and the Schengen area. The European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) will come into force on October 12, 2025, introducing a digital border process for British citizens visiting the Schengen area. Under the EES, travellers on short stays will be required to register their biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photograph, upon arrival.
There is no need to register or pay anything before travelling. This new system will gradually replace the traditional manual stamping of passports at border control. While the EES aims to streamline and speed up travel in the long term, passengers should expect some initial delays during the first few months of implementation.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) warned: “EES may take each passenger a few extra minutes to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border once the system starts.”
To help ease the transition, the UK government has allocated £3.5million each to Eurostar, Eurotunnel, and the Port of Dover to install registration kiosks.
According to the European Commission, EU member states will begin introducing the EES gradually over a six-month period starting from October 12.
When crossing into the bloc’s borders from a non-EU country, UK travellers will be required to scan their passports or travel documents at self-service kiosks and provide biometric data, including facial recognition and fingerprints, instead of receiving passport stamps.
Once registered, a traveller’s digital record will remain valid for three years. During this period, biometric data will only need to be provided again when entering or exiting the Schengen area.