New EU Digital Border System Begins: What Travellers Need to Know
By Trend Brio News Desk | October 11, 2025
British and other non-EU travellers may face longer border waits as the European Union launches its new Entry/Exit System (EES) on Sunday, October 12. The digital border control programme will replace manual passport stamping with biometric registration — including fingerprints and facial images — for non-EU visitors entering the Schengen area.
The EES will be rolled out over six months across 25 EU countries and four Schengen-associated states, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Norway. Ireland and Cyprus will continue using manual stamps.
Under the new system, travellers must register their biometric data and travel document details at automated kiosks on their first entry. This information will remain valid for three years, after which travellers will only need to provide a fingerprint or facial scan during entry and exit. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting but must have facial images captured.
For UK travellers crossing through Dover, Folkestone (Eurotunnel), or St Pancras International, registration will take place before departure from the UK. The Port of Dover has built new EES processing facilities and says its £40m infrastructure upgrade will help prevent traffic delays, despite the new checks taking up to six minutes per vehicle.
Authorities warn of potential longer queues in the early weeks as the system is phased in. The UK government has advised travellers to allow more time for their journeys.
The European Commission says EES aims to modernise and speed up border checks, improve security, prevent illegal migration, and track visa-free travel more effectively. The collected data — including names, birth dates, fingerprints, and facial images — will be stored securely and not shared with third parties except under specific legal conditions.
Manual passport stamping will be fully discontinued by April 10, 2026, when the EES is expected to be fully operational across Europe.
