Newsroom
If you’re visiting the EU from outside Europe, including from the UK, be ready for a new way to cross the border. Starting next Sunday, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will require first-time visitors to scan their passport, fingerprints, and face.
No more manual passport stamping: your arrival and departure will now be tracked digitally. After your first trip, future entries just need a quick facial scan. Kids under 12 will be registered with a photo. There’s no fee for this new system.
Where and When
- Airports, ports, train stations, and road borders across the Schengen Zone.
- At Dover, Eurotunnel Folkestone, and Eurostar London St. Pancras, the checks happen when leaving the UK. Arrival checks won’t be repeated.
- Initially, only freight and buses are checked from October 12. Passenger vehicles follow in November and by year-end.
Officials warn travelers to allow extra time, especially during busy periods like holidays.
Why It’s Happening
The EU wants to make borders faster, safer, and smarter. EES helps stop overstays, fight fraud, and keep track of who’s coming and going, all without slowing things down too much.
Looking Ahead
EES is just the start. By the end of 2026, travelers from outside Schengen will need an ETIAS authorization, a €20 online permit valid for three years, before visiting Europe. And from next April, Europeans visiting the UK will also need a similar e-permit.
Bottom line: Your passport is still your ticket, but soon your face and fingerprints will play a starring role too.
