A significant shift in travel procedure for UK and other non-EU citizens travelling to Europe began on 12 October, with the launch of the European Union’s much-anticipated Entry/Exit System (EES).
The digital system is designed to modernize border control, strengthen security, and electronically track the movements of non-EU short-stay visitors across the 29-nation Schengen Area (including popular destinations like France, Spain, Italy, and Greece).
The EES will ultimately replace the manual stamping of passports. On their first trip using the system, non-EU travellers must complete a new registration process:
Biometric Data: Travellers will have their fingerprints and a photograph registered. Children under 12 are exempt from providing fingerprints.
Process Location: The registration will take place at either automated kiosks or with a border officer. For those travelling via the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar, the checks will be completed before leaving the UK. For flight passengers, the check will typically occur upon arrival at the destination airport.
Duration and Questions: The EES registration is valid for three years. Travellers will also be asked up to four standard questions about their trip, such as confirmation of accommodation.
Travel hubs have been busy preparing for the changes. Eurostar has installed 49 EES kiosks at London St Pancras, while Eurotunnel has installed over a hundred kiosks on each side of the Channel, including drive-up kiosks for car passengers. The Port of Dover has even reclaimed land from the sea to create a dedicated new processing area.
The EES is being introduced gradually over a six-month transition period, with full implementation at all Schengen external border crossings expected by 10 April 2026.
Initial Phasing: At launch, implementation is selective. For instance, Dover is starting with ferry passengers in coaches, followed by other tourist traffic on 1 November. Eurostar is initially inviting only a small number of business travellers to use the kiosks. Eurotunnel is starting with coaches and freight, with tourist cars expected to use the automated kiosks by the end of the year.
Despite the planned gradual introduction to minimise disruption, industry concerns persist that the extra time required for biometric registration—even if only “a couple of minutes” per traveller—could lead to significant queues, especially at high-traffic choke points like Dover.
Travel operators, however, are confident in their preparation. Eurotunnel’s chief executive, Yann Leriche, has insisted there will be “no chaos” at the Channel Tunnel, citing extensive modelling to support his claim.
The EES is a precursor to a second major digital border change: the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
Purpose: ETIAS is a new visa waiver system that will require non-EU citizens, including those from the UK, to apply online for authorisation before travelling.
Timeline & Cost: ETIAS is currently projected to start in the last quarter of 2026. The application fee is set to be €20 (approximately £17.47) and will be valid for three years. Travellers under 18 and over 70 will be exempt from the fee.
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