Big changes are coming for anyone heading from the UK into Europe. From 12 October 2025, the European Union will begin phasing in its long-delayed Entry-Exit System (EES) — a high-tech border control that swaps passport stamps for fingerprints and facial scans. The full rollout is expected by 9 April 2026, and it will apply to all “third-country nationals,” including holders of British passports.
In short, every trip to Europe will soon involve a digital paper trail — and possibly a few more minutes (or hours) at the border. Here’s what travellers need to know.
What is the Entry-Exit System?
Brussels calls it “the most modern digital border management system in the world.” Put simply, the EES is a computerised register of everyone who crosses an external Schengen border, whether by air, land or sea.
Instead of relying on border guards to stamp passports — a system prone to error and hard to track — the new approach will log:
- Date and place of entry or exit
- Facial biometric (photo scan)
- Fingerprints (taken on your first crossing; children under 12 exempt)
The aim is threefold: fight identity fraud, flag overstayers, and help track down suspected criminals.
Why are Brits included?
Because Britain asked to be. While the system was still on the drawing board, the UK was an EU member and part of its planning. After Brexit, British travellers became “third-country nationals,” meaning they face the same 90/180-day rules and restrictions as Americans, Australians or Japanese citizens.
So although this isn’t punishment, it is the red tape Britain signed up for by leaving the EU.
How the rollout will happen
- 12 October 2025 → Launch at about 10% of border posts. Biometrics may not be collected everywhere during the first two months, but passports will still be stamped.
- December 2025 → Fingerprints and facial scans become mandatory at participating posts.
- January 2026 → At least half of Schengen’s crossing points will be running the full biometric system. Expect “double red tape”: biometrics plus passport stamps.
- 9 April 2026 → Full coverage across Europe. Only once the system runs smoothly will the stamping of passports finally stop.
What to expect at the border
If you’re travelling into the Schengen zone (Spain, France, Greece, Germany, etc.), your first encounter with EES will involve a one-off registration: fingerprints plus a facial scan. That registration is valid for three years; subsequent crossings require only facial recognition.
If three years pass without you entering Europe, the system resets and you’ll need to re-register.
Outbound checks will also log your exit, but the priority is arrivals. Ports like Dover and Folkestone, as well as London St Pancras (Eurostar), will host “juxtaposed” French border controls, meaning you’ll hand over your biometrics before even boarding.
Delays and concerns
Not everyone is convinced the system will run smoothly. Slovenia’s government has warned that checks could take up to four times longer. UK MPs were told last year that in a worst-case scenario, queues could stretch 14 hours at Dover if things went wrong.
Transport operators, however, say they are ready. Eurotunnel estimates the new procedure will add two minutes per passenger and can still process 700 cars an hour. At London St Pancras, three separate registration points are being set up to prevent bottlenecks.
To avoid chaos during the first months, EU officials may only check 10% of passengers for biometrics if queues get too long, scaling up gradually.
How does this link to Etias?
Once EES is running, the EU will introduce Etias — short for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. This is the so-called “euro-visa”, though officials insist it’s not technically a visa.
Here’s how it will work:
- Cost: €20 (£17), valid for three years (or until your passport expires).
- Application: Online or via an app, requiring personal details, occupation, parents’ names, first-night address in Europe, and disclosure of criminal records or past deportations.
- Checks: Applications are run against EU and Interpol databases. Most approvals should be instant, but in flagged cases, a decision could take up to 30 days.
Children under 18 and travellers over 70 must still apply but won’t pay the fee.
The current plan is for Etias to become mandatory no earlier than April 2027, after a six-month grace period following the EES rollout.
Will Etias applications be safe?
Official applications will only be accepted at europa.eu/etias. The EU warns of scam sites that overcharge, impersonate the EU, or even attempt identity theft. Travellers should avoid third-party services unless absolutely necessary.
What about long stays or EU passport holders?
- The rules don’t change for EU citizens, who will continue to breeze through with a quick passport scan.
- Irish citizens are exempt, since Ireland is outside Schengen but inside the EU.
- UK nationals with an Irish or EU passport can dodge the system entirely by using that document.
- Anyone holding a residence permit or long-stay visa for an EU nation won’t need Etias.
Final word
For decades, Brits enjoyed near-frictionless travel into Europe. From late 2025, that changes. The good news: passport stamps will disappear, queues may become more orderly, and overstayers will be easier to track. The bad news: expect fingerprints, face scans, a €20 online permit, and a bit more waiting around at border control.
Like it or not, Europe’s borders are going digital — and the days of simply flashing a burgundy passport are gone.
