The EES, which replaces the manual stamping of passports with digital records of entries and exits, has been gradually rolled out across the 29 countries of the Schengen area (25 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein) since October 12th 2025.
On April 10th 2026, it is set to become fully operational at all EU airports and ports.
Under EES, facial scans and fingerprints are taken when a non-EU traveller enters the Schengen area for the first time. After that, checks are expected to be smoother as the registration remains valid for three years, or until the passport expires, whichever is soonest.
The UK government said that “EES checks should take only a few minutes per person, although longer waits at border control are possible”, including for journeys back to the UK.
“As with all journeys, travellers should follow their travel operator’s guidance and allow time to complete these checks, particularly if they have connections or onward transport booked,” the note says.
Alex Norris, UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: “The EU’s Entry Exit System will be a significant change for Brits travelling this Easter.
"Always check with your transport operator in case extra time may be needed, both for your return to the UK and travelling to the EU. We continue to engage with the European Commission on taking steps to help minimise disruption for Brits as much as possible.”
The EES was put in place to strengthen border security and detect more easily visitors who overstay the limit of 90 days in a 180‑day period. An EU official recently reported that 4,000 overstayers have been caught in the first months of its implementation.
The registration happens on arrival, but for people travelling from the UK there are juxtaposed border checks at St Pancras station in London, the Eurotunnel LeShuttle terminal in Folkestone, and the Port of Dover. Similarly, for people travelling to the UK border checks take place at Gare du Nord in Paris, the Eurotunnel Calais terminal and at the Port of Calais.
Eurotunnel’s terminals activated biometric registration on all travellers earlier in March, while initially the checks were only performed on coach passengers and lorry drivers.
Responding to concerns about possible queues and delays, the European Commission recently clarified that Member States can partially suspend the EES, including during the summer months, to avoid travel chaos.
An app for pre-registration should also help smooth the traffic, but this is currently available only in Sweden and Portugal.
The UK government in its note also reminded that many people are exempt from the EES. People who are resident in EU and Schengen countries do not have to register their data, nor dual citizens if they use their EU passport.
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