New border rules will be rolled out from 12 October, with fingerprints and photographs taken from third-country travellers
Travel to Europe will change from 12 October when the EU launches its entry-exit system (EES).
Britons are among the third-country travellers whose fingerprints and photographs will be taken for entry to the Schengen Area under EES.
The phased roll-out of the system will continue until 9 April 2026, after which it will be in place across all Schengen countries.
EES will replace the manual stamping of passports for short stays by third-country (non-EU and non-Schengen Area) travellers.
The system will apply at some entry points initially, with manual checks continuing elsewhere until 10 April.
It will be a centralised system used for border security and will also help to check that third-country visitors have not stayed in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days in a 180-day period without a visa.
The UK has secured agreements with some EU countries for UK travellers to use e-gates. However, use of e-gates would be in addition to any required EES checks.
As part of changes to EU border rules, a new visa waiver for travel to 30 European countries will be launched in the final quarter of 2026. The visa waiver is called Etias and will cost €20 (£17) per person (free for under-18s and over-70s).
Here’s what you need to know about EES and Etias.
How will EES work?
Fingerprints and photographs will be taken from third-country travellers and recorded alongside details on entry and exit from the Schengen Area.
For travel to Europe via Eurostar, the Eurotunnel or by ferry, EES registration and checks will take place in the UK.
Fingerprints and photographs will be collected the first time a traveller crosses a Schengen entry point at which EES has launched. Biometric data, details on entries and exits and any information on refusals of entry will be stored in a centralised system.
Most travellers’ details will be stored for up to three years, after which biometric data will be collected again.
Passport officers will scan fingerprints and take a photo of your face on your first visit to a country with EES. Some border crossing points will have dedicated self-service equipment available at the airport or port or through a mobile application. This equipment will allow travellers to register some details in advance and speed up the EES process.
On subsequent visits to the Schengen Area, passport officers will only need to verify a traveller’s fingerprints and photo.
Travellers with a biometric passport will be able to use self-service systems, where available. If there is any impediment to entry, the traveller may need to see a passport officer. In rare cases, data may need to be recorded again.
For most third-country travellers, data will need to be collected again after three years.
Can UK travellers use e-gates in the EU?
At an UK-EU Summit in May, the UK and EU made clear that there were no legal barriers to more EU countries allowing UK citizens to use e-gates at airports.
Most recently, Germany agreed that UK travellers would be able to use e-gates for entry.
A release from the UK Cabinet Office states that: “Access for all UK nationals will be possible once Germany has completed technical updates to its entry systems as it introduces the new EU’s Entry/Exit System.”
As it stands, when using e-gates at an EU airport, UK travellers must still get their passports stamped.
What does EES mean for use of e-gates?
After EES comes into force, the checks will be different.
UK passport holders (and other third-country travellers) will need to go through a check with a passport officer the first time they visit the Schengen Area after EES has been implemented. This would be in addition to using e-gates.
On subsequent visits, it appears that the checks required would be on a country-by-country basis. Britons may be able to use e-gates in addition to (or as part of) a self-service system for EES. After three years, they will need to register for EES again.
EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “E-gates can make the slog of travelling through an airport that bit easier, which is why I have been working with the EU and member states to get more airports opened up to Brits abroad.”
What about the EES app?
An app that would allow passengers to provide some information for EES before arriving at a border crossing is set to be launched this year.
It will be the choice of individual countries in the Schengen Area and each traveller whether they use the app.
The European Border Agency Frontex has previously said that the “Travel to Europe” mobile app will go live in “selected travel hubs” starting with Stockholm’s Arlanda airport later in 2025.
What is Etias and when will it start?
Etias is an entry requirement for non-EU, visa-exempt travellers visiting one of 30 countries in Europe. It will begin in the last quarter of 2026, according to the EU Commission’s website.
Etias will apply to most UK passport holders. It will cost €20, which is €13 more than the fee that was first proposed. It will be free for travellers who are under 18 or over 70.