EU border system begins phased rollout
British travellers heading to Europe from this week will face new biometric checks as the EU’s Entry-Exit System (EES) begins its phased introduction across member states.
The digital border system requires non-EU visitors to register fingerprints and a photograph on arrival, replacing traditional passport stamping. Once registered, the authorisation will remain valid for three years or until the traveller’s passport expires.
Gradual rollout until April
The new checks, which started on 12 October, will be introduced gradually over six months to minimise disruption during busy travel periods. This means procedures may differ between ports and airports until April 2026.
The EES applies to all Schengen area countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, but not to Ireland or Cyprus.
At the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel in Folkestone, and Eurostar at St Pancras International, checks will take place before passengers leave the UK. The government has provided £10.5 million to upgrade border infrastructure at these sites.
‘Shared objective of secure borders’
Border Security Minister Alex Norris said: “We 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.”
He added that the new system would “help protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration.”
Expected delays at peak times
Travellers will not need to register before travel, and the process is free. The initial registration should take one to two minutes per person, but longer waits are expected at busy times.
Children under 12 will not need to provide fingerprints but will still be photographed.
The UK government has launched an awareness campaign to prepare travellers, with updates available on GOV.UK and the Foreign Office’s Travel Aware website.
The EU says the new system will help enforce the 90-day visa-free travel rule and improve border security across Europe.