TheFrom EUautumn plansthis toyear, introduce the Entry/ExitEU systemwill (EES).be Thisintroducing is a new digital border system thatto willstrengthen changethe requirementssecurity forof Britishits nationalsexternal travelling to the Schengen area.border. 

IfThe younew areregistration travellingprocess to– acalled country in the SchengenEntry/Exit areaSystem, usingor aEES UKfor passport,short you- willis beexpected required to registerbe yourintroduced biometricin details,November, suchhowever as fingerprints or a photo, when you arrive. EES registration will replace the currentEU systemhas ofyet manuallyto stampingconfirm passportsa whenspecific visitorsdate arrivefor inits theintroduction. EU.  ​ 

If you are travellingalso topart of the Schengen area

Whenarea.
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This EESwill isrequire introduced,most youcitizens willof needcountries tooutside the EU to create a digital record onand yourregister firsttheir visitbiometric todetails, thesuch Schengenas areaproviding atfingerprints theand porthaving ortheir airportphoto ontaken, when arrival.they Youenter willthe beSchengen requiredarea. toThis submitshould youronly fingerprintstake anda havefew yourminutes photofor takeneach atperson dedicatedto booths. 

Youdo.  ​
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British travellers will not need to providedo anythis informationon before travellingtheir tofirst avisit Schengento areathe country.  

IfEU youafter areEES flyingis tointroduced.​ aTheir countryrecord inwill thebe Schengenchecked area,on youpoint mayof experienceentry longerinto queuethe timesSchengen whenarea youverifying arriveeither attheir yourfingerprint destination.  or photograph. 

At some ports andin internationalthe stationsSouth of England (Dover, Eurotunnel and St Pancras),Pancras there- where the French Border Force operate immigration checks in the UK), EES will be carried out before departure. There may be increased wait times while EES registration is completed before passengers leave the UK. ​IfUK.
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If youBritish aretravellers travellingdecide throughto onevisit ofa thesecountry stations,in youthe shouldSchengen checkarea withagain yourwithin travela operatorthree-year toperiod findof outcreating whethertheir EESdigital record, they will affectonly yourneed journey.

Yourto digitalprovide recordeither istheir validfingerprint foror 3photograph years.at Ifthe youborder enteron theentry Schengenand areaexit.

EES againwill duringbolster thisborder time,security youfor willboth onlythe needEU toand providetheir aneighbouring fingerprintcountries. 

More orinformation photoon atEES thecan border,be whenfound youon enterthe andEU’s exit.official Travel Europe website.

Why is the EU is introducing EES EES?

EES is designed to improve border securitysecurity, withinincluding tackling illegal migration in the EUSchengen andArea itsby neighbouringkeeping countries,a andnew reducedigital illegalrecord migrationof people that enter.  ​

It will also replace the current system of manually stamping passports every time someone enters a country in the SchengenEU, area.  Itwith willmore automateautomated border control checks to help the EU stopensure visitorsthat overstaying.​people do not overstay.​

EES is part of wider work the EU is doing to strengthen their border security.security In– in 2025, the lastEU quarterwill ofintroduce 2026,the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).  ​

ETIAS will mean that those travelling to the EUSchengen isarea expectedneed to startsubmit operationsinformation about themselves and their travel plans, and pay a fee of 7 Euros, to apply for authorisation to travel before they leave for the newSchengen Europeanarea.

The TravelEU Informationhas andalready Authorisationset Systemout (ETIAS).more Noinformation actionon isETIAS, including what information will be required from travellerseach atnationality. thisThis point.can be found on the EU’s official Travel Europe website.

The Europeanimpact Unionon journeys to the Schengen Area 

When EES is introduced, travellers will informbe aboutrequired to register at the specificSchengen dateborder. forThey’ll do this at the startport ofor ETIASairport beforeon itsarrival, launch.  ​ where they can submit their fingerprints and have their photo taken at dedicated booths. 

WhenWhile ETIASthe ischecks introduced,will youonly willtake needa few minutes for each person to applydo, it may lead to longer queue times for authorisationpeople travelling to entercountries in the Schengen areaarea.  ​

Travellers countrieswill ifonly usingneed ato UKsubmit passport.their Youbiometric information at the border, and when EES is first introduced, they will neednot be required to provide personalany further information andbefore detailsthey abouttravel.​

At yoursome trip,ports in the South of England (Dover, Eurotunnel and paySt aPancras 7- Eurowhere fee,the asFrench partoperate juxtaposed immigration checks in the UK), there may be increased wait times while EES registration is completed before passengers leave the UK. ​
​
Passengers travelling through one of these ports should check with their travel operator before they leave to travel, to understand when to arrive at the authorisationport process.  and any potential impacts to their journey.​

TheIf EUtravellers hasare alreadyflying setto outa morecountry informationin onthe ETIAS,Schengen includingarea, whatthey informationmay willexperience belonger requiredqueue fromtimes eachwhen nationality,they onarrive thewhile EU’sEES officialregistration Travelis Europe website.completed.

HowThe EESGovernment willis affecttaking travellingaction to minimise the Schengenimpact areaof EES

The EES is an EU initiative, and the UK governmentGovernment has been reviewing the preparations made to date.

The UK Government has been working closely with the European Commission, member states, local authorities and the travel industryindustry, taking a multi-agency approach to prepareensure portsPorts are prepared for EES.the introduction of EES. 

The governmentGovernment ishas been supporting ports and carriers to ensuremake EESsure registrationthey ishave simplethe forright peopletechnology travellingand toprocesses thein Schengenplace area.so EES registration can take place as smoothly as possible. 

UKRecently, governmentthe supportUK includesGovernment providingprovided Eurostar, Eurotunnel and Port of Dover with£3.5m £3.5of millionfunding each, towhich spendthey are spending on registrationmore kiosks and infrastructure. infrastructure.

Eurostar expectswill EEShave registrationalmost 50 kiosks for people to becarry quickout andthe easy.checks, ​Itand these will havebe 50spread kiosks across 3three locations at stationsthe forstation. peopleIt expects EES registration to carrybe outquick theand checks.easy. ​

Eurotunnel will have over 100 kiosks and estimate EES checks will add just over 5 minutes to journey times.​ times.​

Port of Dover will have 24 kiosks for coach passengers and will register passengers in cars using agents and tablets to make the process as straightforward as possible. possible.

Find

Where can I find out more information onabout theEES?  

You EEScan initiativevisit on the EU’s official official Travel Europe website.