If you are planning to go to Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, Italy or any other European country for a holiday over the winter, it will be worth knowing the following changes
A new entry and exit system is operating in EU countries(Image: Getty Images)
A timely warning has been issued to UK people planning to travel to EU countries this winter to visit Christmas markets. The alert is over a new border checks system that has started across the EU and will be implemented in 29 countries.
Since October 2025, the European Union has started rolling out its new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires non-EU citizens, including Brits, to register their biometric data at the border. This can include needing to have your facial photograph taken and your fingerprints scanned.
This system is being launched across numerous airports in the Schengen area with the aim of reducing lengthy queues at passport control. The data gathered by the system will be used to create a digital record linked to each traveller’s passport. ChronicleLive has previously explained the new entry rules that have come in force in EU countries.
A number of countries in the EU have either already brought in the new system, or are in the process of doing so. Writing on X, the FCDO Travel Advice wrote: “Travelling to Europe for the winter markets?
“The EU has introduced new border checks. Your fingerprints and photo may be taken at the EU border.”
Despite this, it’s understood that manual passport stamping will continue alongside EES registration across the Schengen area for the first six months of the scheme’s implementation, reports the Liverpool Echo. The official European Union website says: “The new Entry/Exit System (EES) started to be operational on 12 October 2025.
“European countries using the EES are introducing the system gradually at their external borders. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026.”
Further guidance from the UK Foreign Office states: “If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.”
The only exception to the process at the border in a Schengen country is if you enter a Schengen area through the Port of Dover, St Pancras International, or Eurotunnel at Folkestone. In these cases, you will be required to make the EES check before leaving the UK.
The Foreign Office adds: “Your digital EES record is valid for 3 years. If you enter the Schengen area again during this time, you will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border, when you enter and exit.”
List of countries using EES
Currently, the following countries will have EES applied to them, according to the EU:
- 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
- Switzerland
Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East.
Join our WhatsApp communities
ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities.
We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we’ll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all!
To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press ‘join community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community
Join our Court & Crime community
Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community
Join our Northumberland community
Join our County Durham community
Join our Great North Run community
Join our shopping deals and bargains community
Join our Christmas and New Year community