EU Entry/Exit System - EES
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system being introduced by the European Union from 12 October 2025 for UK and other non - EU nationals.
Non-EU nationals (including British citizens) will, from 12 October 2025, in many cases need to register certain biometric and travel data when entering or exiting Schengen countries:
Have fingerprints and a photo taken (for biometric registration)
Answer basic questions under the Schengen Border Code
Provide their passport/travel document details
This applies when entering or exiting any of the following countries (i.e. the Schengen Area, plus certain associated states):
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.
The Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not within the Schengen area, and therefore EES is not applicable when travelling to either of these countries.
For the purposes of EES, a “non-EU national” is someone who does not hold the nationality of an EU country (or of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland).
A “short stay” means up to 90 days within any 180-day period. That 90/180-day rule is enforced across all participating countries together.
The biometric registration (fingerprints + photo) is typically done at the border upon first crossing into a participating country after EES is in force.
There is no charge for registration.
Travellers do not need to pre-register in advance — all necessary information is collected at the border crossing.
Once the system is fully operational, manual passport stamping will be phased out and replaced by the digital EES record.
Notes
Rollout period: EES is being introduced progressively over a six-month period from 12 October 2025 through 10 April 2026. Not all biometric data may be collected immediately at all border points.
Exemptions: Some travellers may be exempt (for example, certain holders of residence permits, long-stay visas, or family members in specific situations).