Published on
September 30, 2025
Greece, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and other European countries are set to introduce a new Entry and Exit System (EES) requiring UK travellers to provide fingerprints and facial scans. The move aims to strengthen border security, streamline the monitoring of visitors, and ensure compliance with visa and travel regulations across the Schengen zone. By digitising entry and exit records, European authorities can more accurately track arrivals and departures, reduce overstays, and enhance overall safety for both travellers and host countries.
UK passport holders travelling to Spain, Greece, France, and 26 additional European countries will face major changes from October 12, 2025, as a new automated border management system is introduced. The Entry/Exit System (EES) will require travellers to provide additional personal and biometric information, marking a significant shift in the way visitors enter and leave the Schengen zone.
The EES is an advanced digital system designed to track all arrivals at EU external borders. It applies to UK citizens visiting on short-stay visas as well as those exempt from visa requirements. The system will collect travellers’ names, travel document details, fingerprints, facial images, and the exact date and location of entry and exit. All information will be stored securely, complying with strict privacy and data protection regulations, while allowing authorities to maintain accurate records of visitors.
Upon its launch, UK travellers must create a digital record during their first trip to the Schengen area. This will involve submitting fingerprints and posing for a photograph at designated booths located at airports, seaports, and land border crossings. Once established, this record will be used for future trips, simplifying entry processes for returning visitors.
Although travellers do not need to pre-register before travelling, those flying to Schengen countries should anticipate longer waiting times at arrival due to the new checks. For travellers entering via the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone, or St Pancras International, biometric information will be collected before leaving the UK, helping to reduce delays once they reach their destination.
Exit checks will also require travellers to provide either fingerprints or a photograph to complete the border record. This ensures authorities can monitor both entries and departures, preventing overstays and improving overall border security.
The new procedures will apply across 30 countries: 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. The wide implementation reflects the EU’s efforts to strengthen border security, improve visitor management, and maintain accurate records of short-term travellers.
For UK holidaymakers, the EES introduces a notable change in travel routines, particularly for those taking short city breaks or leisure trips across Europe. While the system is designed to enhance security and efficiency, travellers will need to allow extra time at borders. Airports and ports are expected to adjust facilities and staffing to manage the additional checks, but delays are likely during peak travel periods.
The EES is part of a broader effort to modernise and digitalise border control, reducing the risk of fraud, improving compliance with travel rules, and enhancing overall safety. Travellers should plan ahead, familiarise themselves with the new requirements, and be prepared to provide biometric data at entry and exit points.
Greece, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and other European countries are introducing a new Entry and Exit System requiring UK travellers to provide fingerprints and facial scans to strengthen border security and track arrivals and departures.
Ultimately, the introduction of the EES marks a significant milestone for UK travellers visiting Europe. While it ensures more secure and digitally managed travel, it also requires careful planning to navigate new procedures and avoid delays. With the system in place, border crossings across the Schengen zone will be more efficient, secure, and capable of handling growing numbers of visitors.
