UK holidaymakers heading to Europe will soon undergo additional border checks as the European Union introduces its new Entry/Exit System (EES), starting from October 12, 2025.
The automated system, which will be phased in over six months, applies to UK and other non-EU nationals travelling for short stays in the Schengen area. Passengers will need to scan their passports, provide fingerprints, and have a photo taken at the border.
The checks will be mandatory for entry into most EU countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, but will not apply to travel to Ireland or Cyprus. Photos will be taken of all travelers, including infants, while children under 12 will be exempt from fingerprinting.
Once registered, biometric data will remain valid for three years or until the passport expires. Subsequent trips will require only a passport scan and a single biometric verification.
UK officials are urging travelers to allow extra time for journeys as the system is rolled out. “While EES checks will be a significant change to the EU border, we are in constant and close dialogue with our European partners to minimize the impact on the British public,” a government spokesperson said.
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Travel experts have warned of potential delays at busy border points — particularly Dover, Folkestone Eurotunnel, and London St Pancras International, where Schengen checks take place before departure. Operators are working with authorities to prepare contingency plans.
The EU says the new digital system will replace manual passport stamping, improve the monitoring of overstays, reduce illegal immigration, and streamline future crossings for registered travelers.
The UK government has launched an information campaign to prepare holidaymakers and is advising anyone travelling to Europe after October 12, 2025, to stay updated and plan for possible additional wait times.
Africa Daily News, New York.
