European Entry/Exit System (EES): What UK Travellers Need to Know About New EU Border Changes
The European Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new EU initiative set to change how non-EU travellers—such as UK visitors—are processed at borders in Europe. The following detailed Q&A breaks down the essentials for Conexo Travel customers and elaborates on what to expect when travelling, transiting, or cruising through the Schengen area in the coming months.
What is the European Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EES is a digital border-control system rolling out across EU airports and seaports from 12 October, with full implementation expected within six months. Instead of manual passport stamping, the EES will electronically register each arrival and departure, using biometric data such as facial photographs and fingerprints, alongside essential travel document details.
What is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen area is a collective of 29 European countries that have removed routine border checks, enabling seamless travel between member states. This includes 25 EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and more) plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, which are non-EU members. Travellers can cross most internal borders without showing passports, although entry requirements still apply on arrival from outside the zone.
Who Will Be Affected?
The EES primarily impacts non-EU nationals such as UK citizens visiting EU countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. It covers all short stays—holidays, business trips, transits—regardless of specific reasons for travel. Even those connecting through EU airports or passing through European sea ports will be subject to the scheme.
How Will EES Work?
Upon first arrival at an EU airport or seaport, visitors will use designated kiosks to register their details, including fingerprints (for ages 12+) and a live photograph (for all ages, including infants). Travellers will answer basic immigration questions, with biometric data and travel records securely stored for three years. Notably, EES checks at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel (Folkestone), and St Pancras International will be processed prior to departure when travelling to Europe from the UK.
Why Is the EES Being Introduced?
EES aims to modernise EU border security, eliminating manual passport stamps and improving the detection of overstaying visitors or those previously refused entry. For the time being, expect passport stamping in some locations (including Cyprus and Ireland) until at least 10 April 2026. The change should streamline border processes in future, offering greater speed and transparency for both travellers and border control staff.
Will the Rollout Cause Delays?
Travellers should be prepared for longer waiting times at EU borders, especially during the initial six months of phased EES implementation. The pace of introduction will vary by country and port, meaning some journeys may involve manual checks or delayed biometric registration, while others move directly to the new system.
How Does EES Affect Cruise Passengers?
The impact depends entirely on the itinerary. Cruise guests embarking and disembarking in the UK are usually exempt from EES registration, unless they leave the cruise ship and travel independently into the Schengen area. For multi-country cruises, crossing from non-Schengen into Schengen country ports may trigger EES registration requirements for onward travel.
Which Countries Will Require EES Registration?
The EES covers entry and exit in the following Schengen area countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. Passport stamping remains in place in Ireland and Cyprus for the foreseeable future.
Key Points for Conexo Travel Clients
Biometrics are now mandatory for everyone, including children and babies, in EES countries.
Expect extra waiting times, especially initially, as the system beds in across airports and seaports.
If passing through the Port of Dover, St Pancras, or Folkestone Eurotunnel, biometric checks take place before departure, not upon arrival.
EES registration is waived for most single-country UK cruise itineraries, except when disembarking into Schengen ports for onward travel.
For further updates or specific queries, Conexo Travel recommends checking with the relevant embassy or official EU information sites prior to travel. This article was written 8 September 2025 and may be subject to updates.
