EES and Etias: the new EU border rules every UK traveller needs to know in 2026

2026 Update: Travellers heading to Europe over Easter 2026 should be aware that full EES biometric checks are now in operation or imminent at all Schengen borders — allow extra time at ports and stations.

The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) officially launched on 12 October 2025, introducing fingerprinting and facial scans for British travellers entering the Schengen Area.

The rollout marks a major border to border controls for UK visitors to Europe.

With full operation scheduled for 10 April 2026, France and other Schengen countries will now require 'third-country travellers' — including those from the UK — to show proof of medical insurance, a return ticket and accommodation details. Travellers should ensure they have this information to hand before crossing any Schengen border.

Travellers will also need to know the address of where they are staying, ready to inform border officials as they enter the EU.

Those who can't answer the required questions may be stopped by a border official.

The EES replaces the passport-stamping process with biometric registration at e-gates and kiosks.

British travellers entering France via Dover, Folkestone or London St Pancras are being asked to scan their passport and provide fingerprints and a facial image. By March 2026, all borders are required to be operating EES and processing at least half of all passengers through the system, with full 100% processing beginning 10 April 2026.

The EES will automatically record how many days a Briton has spent in Europe. Britons without European residency can only spend 90 days out of 180 in Europe under post-Brexit rules, and this new automatic system will make it easier to keep track, rather than relying on a manual tally and frantic search for passport stamps.

Note: some media reports have suggested the full rollout has been delayed until September 2026 — this is incorrect. The European Commission and ABTA have both confirmed the 10 April 2026 deadline stands, though individual countries may temporarily suspend checks during peak summer travel periods.

Since its launch in October 2025, EES has caused some disruption at European airports and ports, with processing times rising significantly at busier locations due to the additional steps involved in biometric data collection. Travellers should allow extra time at border crossings, particularly during the busy Easter and summer periods.

The EES is one of two new policies being enforced for British travellers entering the EU, with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) also launching in the last quarter of 2026.

What is EES?

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is a way for EU and Schengen countries to track travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries when they cross an external EU border.

Britons and other non-EU or Schengen travellers will be required to scan their passport (or other travel document) and have their photograph and fingerprint taken at e-gates, rather than the current situation where border officials stamp passports.

Biometric data is collected the first time a traveller uses the EES and stored for up to three years. Future trips should be faster, as fingerprints and facial recognition can be verified automatically at e-gates.

The system will not be in force for Britons travelling to EU nations Cyprus or Ireland, but will be in force for non-EU states that are in the Schengen - Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.

Non-EU citizens with legal residency or long-stay visas will be exempt.

In the UK, EES will operate at the Port of Dover, Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals, where French border guards operate.

Kiosks have been installed at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone and the Port of Dover, with passengers needing to leave their cars to register.

Travellers using Eurostar or Le Shuttle are being encouraged to register early through kiosks at Folkestone, Dover or St Pancras to avoid queues. However, officials have confirmed that not every traveller will need to complete full biometric registration immediately — in the first phase, only a proportion of passengers are being asked to use the new machines.

EES questions

While the EES collects fingerprints and a photograph, additional “admissibility” questions originally planned by French authorities — including proof of funds, accommodation and return travel — were suspended during the six-month phased rollout but are expected to be enforced from 10 April 2026 as the system goes fully live.

Travellers should be prepared to provide details of where they are staying, proof of a return ticket, and evidence of adequate travel insurance at the border from April 2026 onwards.

The UK has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the EU under the GHIC card, but some countries - France in particular - are thought to be strict on medical insurance which covers extra costs such as repatriation. UK officials are seeking clarification from the EU.

Medical insurance is standard in most travel insurance policies and experts advise having £1 million in cover for trips to Europe.

EU border officials are already allowed to ask these questions under the Schengen Borders Code but rarely do. However the EES and Etias rollouts mean travellers are thought to be more likely to be asked and provide proof. They could be asked at the kiosks by the automated systems, or by border guards.

The Practical Handbook for Border Guards, adopted by the European Commission, is not publicly available, but is thought to include questions such as:

EES start date

The EES was originally scheduled to begin in 2022 but has been delayed three times.

After a series of delays and a phased rollout beginning 12 October 2025, the EES is now approaching full operation.

The EES became fully mandatory at all Schengen border crossings on 10 April 2026, completing a six-month phased introduction. Passport stamping is now replaced by electronic records across all participating countries.

Countries may decide to launch the EES at all border crossings from October 12 if they wish.

However, individual countries retain the right to temporarily suspend EES checks for up to 90 days during peak travel periods — such as the summer holidays — to prevent excessive queuing, with a possible 60-day extension. This flexibility was built into the system's legal framework and does not represent a delay to the overall rollout.

EES app

The EU's border agency Frontex has been developing an EES app to enable travellers to input some of their details before they travel, hopefully speeding up the process.

Users can upload their photo and answer questions into the Travel to Europe app before they arrive at the border, but will still need to record their fingerprints in person.

Frontex said the app will be ready to be used when the EES launches, with selected countries trialling it first from late 2025-early 2026. Sweden's Arlanda Airport in Stockholm will be the first to trial the app this year, before the Netherlands, France and Italy looking to pilot it at selected major entry points in 2026.

Portugal, Greece and Hungary may follow next.

The House of Commons Library has produced information on the EES and Etias which you can read here.

Etias

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) is a separate verification scheme for travellers entering the EU/Schengen.

It has been created for those who do not need a visa to travel into the EU/Schengen region, such as Britons.

Similar to the ESTA in the United States, the Etias asks for details of any criminal convictions.

It also asks about past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been subject of a decision requiring you to leave the territory of any country.

It even asks about your level of education and current occupation, as well as details about your intended travel.

The Etias costs €20 for people aged 18 to 70 (and free for others). This is nearly three times the originally proposed price of €7.

After a series of delays, it is now expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026, once EES is fully operational. Travellers do not need to apply yet, and the EU will confirm the official start date several months in advance.

We previously wrote a guide explaining what an Etias is, which countries are included, how to apply and who is exempt. You can read it here: "ETIAS visa: UK travellers to pay £17 to enter EU next year – how to apply and who is exempt"

Etias date

UK travellers will be required to hold an Etias from the the last quarter of 2026 at the earliest, although the EU is yet to put an exact date on the launch.

The EU said it would give travellers "several months'" notice before the Etias is launched.

Each Etias will last for three years, or until the traveller's passport expires, whichever comes first. Then the holder will need to renew their Etias for their next visit to Europe.

Again this is similar to the US ESTA which is valid for two years.

The UK has introduced its own version of the Etias - the Electronic Travel Authorisation - which EU travellers must apply for. This costs £16 for two years and was launched on April 2 2025.

The EES represents the biggest change to EU border controls in decades, replacing manual passport stamps with biometric checks. For now, most British travellers will experience little disruption as the system is rolled out gradually, but those travelling during the six-month transition should allow extra time at ports and stations.

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