The Foreign Office has issued a new travel update for tourists and travellers planning to enter 29 European Union countries in a few months time. The European Union has announced that starting October 12, it will begin implementing a new entry system – the EES – that replaces traditional passport stamping with biometric checks, including fingerprinting and facial recognition.
This means that as the rules come into force, UK travellers will need to provide extra details. The system will register the person’s name, type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images), and the date and place of entry and exit, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection. The countries in the Schengen area are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
In an advice issued by the Foreign Office on July 30, it stated: “From 12 October 2025, the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin. This is a new digital border system that will change requirements for British nationals travelling to the Schengen area.
“If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.
“EES may take each passenger a few extra minutes to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border once the system starts.”
When the new EU entry system (EES) starts, travellers going to the Schengen area will need to give fingerprints and have their photo taken the first time they arrive. This will be done at special booths at airports or ports.
You don’t need to do anything before you travel, but be ready for longer queues when flying into Schengen countries. If you are leaving the UK through Dover, Folkestone Eurotunnel, or St Pancras International, this process will happen before departure. You may also be asked for a fingerprint or photo when exiting the Schengen area.
The officials added: “If you frequently travel to the Schengen area for work and/or leisure purposes, you must ensure that your total stay in the Schengen area is no more than 90 days in every 180 days. You must be aware of the penalty and enforcement approach for exceeding the immigration limit in any individual Member State you plan to travel to, or through.
“Your digital EES record is valid for 3 years. If you enter the Schengen area again during this time, you will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border, when you enter and exit.”