The United Kingdom government has issued new travel advice to raise public awareness around the European Union’s upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES) and what it will soon mean for UK nationals and other non-EU citizens crossing the bloc’s borders.
Released by the UK Home Office on 8 September, the advice describes the EES as “an automated system” that will require short-stay visitors to Schengen area countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, to register at the border by scanning their passport and having their fingerprints and photograph taken.
That registration needs to take place on a traveller’s first trip into the zone after the EES comes into force on 12 October 2025. However, EES processes “will not be required when travelling to Ireland and Cyprus,” the notice points out. Furthermore, “British citizens covered by Withdrawal Agreement residence documents and UK-EU dual citizens using their EU passports will be exempt from the new requirements.”
Heading to Europe? ✈️
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) September 8, 2025
From October, British travellers may need to scan their passports, provide fingerprints and have their photo taken when entering or leaving Schengen countries. pic.twitter.com/ITQhs1FojR
Valid for a rolling three-year period, or until the passport document used expires, the registration applies to all travellers, including babies, who, like adults, will need to be photographed and have “digital records created.” However, children under the age of 12 years old will not be fingerprinted.
After the initial registration, subsequent border crossings, whether going in or out of participating territories, will entail only a passport scan and either fingerprint or photo verification at checkpoints.
On 12 October, @EU_Commission will launch the Entry/Exit System.#EES will gradually record entries and exits of non-EU nationals in 29 European countries, capturing fingerprints, facial images and travel data.
— EU Home Affairs (@EUHomeAffairs) September 5, 2025
It will be fully operational in 6 months. Read more ↓
Travellers should be aware that the EES is being phased in over a six-month period, the UK authorities point out, “meaning different ports may have varying requirements until April 2026.” Although this might create some uncertainty, this “gradual implementation” is intended to minimise disruption, particularly at peak periods.”
At some of the UK’s major international travel hubs, juxtaposed border controls have been put in place, meaning “For travellers using the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International, the process will take place at the border before they leave the UK,” officials note.
Ahead of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System, launching on 12 Oct, we welcomed British media including @BBCNews' @KatyAustinNews and @simbrowning, along with @PA's media team including @NeilLancefield to showcase how we've updated our check-in process to ensure smooth journeys. pic.twitter.com/XO4KxEnRru
— Eurostar Newsroom (@NewsEurostar) September 8, 2025
Despite an outlay of £10.5 million (approximately €12.1 million), there may still be teething problems. A UK government spokesperson said: “While EES checks will be a significant change to the EU border, we are in constant and close dialogue with our European partners to try and minimise the impact on the British public.” The statement continued: “While we have done everything we can to ensure the required infrastructure is in place, anyone who is planning a trip to the European mainland once these checks are introduced will still need to allow more time for their journey as the new EU systems bed in.”
