Need to know
The European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now fully operational, meaning that Brits travelling into major European holiday hotspots will need to go through a new digital border
The EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES) has been fully rolled out(Image: Getty Images)
Five things to know about the new EU rules
- As of Friday, 10 April, the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully rolled out, and Brits will be required to go through the digital border system when travelling to the Schengen area.
- Countries in the Schengen area include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, 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 EES system is not required for travel into the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus, as they are not within the Schengen area.
- With the new system in place, Brits will need to “create a digital record” and register their biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photograph, on their first visit to the Schengen area at the airport border upon arrival. This will be free of charge, and holidaymakers do not need to do anything before arriving at the border.
- The new EES registration has replaced the former system of manual passport stamps when arriving in the EU. The government noted that the EES may take “each passenger a few extra minutes to complete”, but once done, the EES record is valid for three years. During this time, when entering the Schengen area again, Brits will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border on entrance and exit.
- Brits have been warned to expect delays and allow for extra time at the airport following the full introduction of the EU system, which was first rolled out on 12 October 2025. Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at ABTA, said: “What we have said to customers is that, because of the checks, you might need to prepare for delays with extra water and snacks.”
For more information on the new EES system, visit the government website.
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