People travelling on a UK passport are about to notice some major changes when going on holiday to Spain, Greece, France, and a further 26 European nations.
The long-awaited new Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to kick off on October 12, and it will require UK travellers to provide additional details.
In a new alert issued on X, formerly Twitter, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “Got a European city break planned for this autumn? From October 12, 2025, the EU will introduce new border checks.
“Your fingerprints and photo may be taken at the EU border.” The EES will be an automated IT system that registers UK travellers, including short-stay visa holders and those exempt from visas, each time they cross an EU external border.
This system will record the traveller’s name, type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and facial images), as well as the date and place of entry and exit, all while respecting fundamental rights and data protection.
When the EES is introduced, travellers will need to establish a digital record during their initial visit to the Schengen area at the port or airport upon arrival. They will be asked to submit their fingerprints and have a photo taken at dedicated booths.
Travellers won’t need to provide any information prior to travelling to a Schengen area country. However, if they are flying to a country within the Schengen area, they should anticipate longer queue times upon arrival at their destination.
For those entering the Schengen area via the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, this information will be collected at the border before they depart the UK. They may also be required to provide either a fingerprint or photo when leaving the Schengen area.
The countries the new rules will impact 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.
