Travelling to Europe with a School Group: What You Need to Know About the New EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
From 12 October 2025, the European Union is introducing a new border check system called the Entry/Exit System (EES). All UK and non-EU nationals will have to be registered for EES. This change will affect school groups travelling from the UK into the Schengen area.
At TCBC School Tours, we know that organising a school trip already comes with a long to-do list. That’s why we want to make sure you and your students feel fully prepared, supported, and reassured. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the EES?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated EU-run digital border system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay*. It will record when non-EU travellers enter and leave the Schengen area.
Instead of passport stamps, travellers will be required to:
► scan their passport
► have their fingerprints and photograph taken
*Short stay’ means up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES.
What countries are included?
The EES applies when travelling to the Schengen area, which includes:
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.
Important: EES is not applicable when travelling to the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus.
Do we need to register in advance?
No. There’s nothing to do before you travel. The checks happen at the border when you arrive or depart.
Do we need to pay for EES?
No – the EES is completely free.
For how long is the registration valid for?
Registration will be valid for three years or until the traveller’s passport expires/ is renewed.
Will I need to do this every time I travel?
Travellers will only have to create a full digital record on their first visit to the Schengen Area, or if it is more than 3 years since their last record creation. If you return to the Schengen area within 3 years, travellers will have a faster process by only needing to update their existing digital record and provide one biometric (i.e. fingerprints or a facial image) at the point of entry and exit. To sum up, after initial registration, future border crossings will only require a passport scan and either a fingerprint or a photo
Will it cause delays?
While EES registration itself should only take around one to two minutes for each person to do, they may lead to longer wait times at Border Control upon arrival in the Schengen area. These are likely to vary from location to location and will depend on traveller volumes and processing capacity at the point at which EES processing is carried out.
How it will be phased in?
EES will be introduced in phases from 12 October 2025, meaning your experience of it after it goes live will vary depending on where you are travelling to. This is a summary of the phases:
- 12 October 2025 launch: At least one border point in each country should operate the new system, increasing to 10% of border points after the first 60 days.
- December 2025: Borders operating EES start to take biometric checks (facial scan and/or fingerprints).
- January 2026: Half of border points should be operating EES, with at least a third of passengers going through the system.
- March 2026: All borders are operating EES and taking biometrics, processing at least half of passengers through the system.
- 10 April 2026: System fully live, with all borders processing all passengers through EES, and taking biometrics.
Will this affect school groups?
Yes – all non-EU nationals, including UK students and teachers, will need to complete EES checks. It is applicable to every group member and will be done individually.
- Travelling by air: Checks will take place on arrival at your European airport.
- Travelling by coach & ferry / Le Shuttle: Checks may happen either before boarding in the UK (at “juxtaposed” controls such as Dover or Folkestone) or on arrival at your destination.
- Travelling by Eurostar: If your group is travelling by train from London St Pancras, EES checks will take place at the station before boarding. This means fingerprints and photos will be taken in the UK, so allow a little extra time before departure.
This means your group should expect to spend extra time at border control, particularly at busy times.
What about younger students and international pupils?
- Pupils: Students of all ages will need to go through the EES checks, however children under 12 will not need to provide fingerprints but they will need to have a facial scan taken.
- International students:
- Non-EU nationals studying in the UK will need to complete EES checks
- Check if you are EXEMPT from EES (link). For example: Irish passport holders are exempt from EES or if you are a British passport holder but have EU residency, you are also exempt from EES.
- Multiple passports: If a traveller has more than one passport, they must use the same document consistently when entering and exiting.
Who is exempt from EES?
- Nationals of the European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland
- Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national
- Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen
- Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
- Full list: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/ltr/to-whom-does-ees-not-apply#ees-does-not-apply-to
What can schools do to prepare?
- Allow a little extra time at border crossings.
- Brief students in advance so they know their fingerprints or photo may be taken.
- Check passports – ensure they are valid and students use the same one throughout.
In summary
The new EU Entry/Exit System is a simple, free border check that involves passport scan, fingerprint and photo scan. For school groups, the main change will be allowing a little extra time when crossing into Europe.
At TCBC, we understand how important smooth travel is when you’re leading a group of students. While some waiting times at borders are outside of anyone’s control, we’ll always plan carefully, keep you updated, and do everything we can to ensure the EES process has as little impact on your trip as possible. That way, you and your students can focus on the enriching experiences that really matter.
For the latest official guidance, visit the UK Government’s page: gov.uk/guidance/eu-entryexit-system
Other sources to refer to:
Travel Aware - https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/european-entry-exit-scheme/
EU’s official Travel Europe website - https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees
ABTA site - https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/upcoming-changes-travel-europe
Home Office: EES Industry FAQ - https://homeoffice.brandworkz.com/bms/albums/?albumShare=LznKxoP4
