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British holidaymakers and business travellers heading to Europe are being urged to prepare for new digital border checks from today, as the EU\u2019s Entry Exit System (EES) begins its phased introduction.<\/p>\n
The system, which officially launches on 12 October, will require British passport-holders and other non-EU citizens to register at the EU border by scanning their passport, providing fingerprints, and having a photograph taken.<\/p>\n
Once completed, each registration will remain valid for three years or until the traveller\u2019s passport expires.<\/p>\n
The EES replaces manual passport stamping for all non-EU citizens, allowing Schengen states to track compliance with the 90-day visa-free travel rule and strengthen border control.<\/p>\n
Phased Rollout to Ease Pressure at Borders<\/strong><\/p>\n The new checks will be introduced gradually over the next six months, with different ports applying the system at different times until April 2026.<\/p>\n Officials say this phased approach is intended to reduce disruption and give transport operators time to adapt, particularly at peak travel periods.<\/p>\n For subsequent visits to participating countries, travellers will only need to scan their passport and provide either fingerprints or a photograph \u2014 streamlining the process once initial registration is complete.<\/p>\n The EES will apply when entering Schengen area countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, but not when travelling to Ireland or Cyprus.<\/p>\n Checks Before Departure at UK Ports<\/strong><\/p>\n At Dover, Folkestone (Eurotunnel) and St Pancras International (Eurostar), the process will take place before travellers leave the UK.<\/p>\n To help prepare, the UK Government has provided \u00a310.5 million in funding for ports and operators to install the necessary infrastructure.<\/p>\n Government: \u201cWe\u2019re Working to Keep Journeys Smooth\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris<\/strong>, acknowledged the significance of the change:<\/p>\n \u201cWe recognise that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cThe UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration.\u201d<\/p>\n Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, Keir Mather<\/strong>, said the government\u2019s focus is on minimising disruption:<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve backed our ports and operators with \u00a310.5 million to help them get ready for the EU\u2019s new Entry\/Exit System, ensuring they have the infrastructure and systems in place to manage the changes.<\/p>\n \u201cOur priority is to minimise disruption for travellers and hauliers, particularly at our busiest border crossings. We\u2019ll continue working closely with European partners and local resilience forums to keep traffic flowing and journeys smooth.\u201d<\/p>\n Travellers Advised to Allow Extra Time<\/strong><\/p>\n Travellers do not need to take any action before travelling and the registration process is free. Checks will be carried out upon arrival at the EU border and are expected to take one to two minutes per person.<\/p>\n However, the government has cautioned that first-time registrations may cause longer wait times, particularly during holiday peaks.<\/p>\n At the UK\u2019s juxtaposed ports, where checks occur before departure, travellers may face slightly longer queues, though Eurostar, Eurotunnel, and the Port of Dover have introduced contingency measures to ease congestion.<\/p>\n![\"ree\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/7986bd_c35056068aef4fe2bd5a2c65a27460d0~mv2.jpg\")
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