Post Office

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is being rolled out across European countries

Travellers heading to Europe are being warned to be ready for major changes at airports as a new digital border system rolls out. With the changes starting in October, some will have already experienced the new system, while others won’t have.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is gradually replacing traditional passport stamps across European countries and an expert is urging Brits to research the requirements and allow extra time for airport checks. Paul Paddock, CEO of Post Office Insurance at Post Office, has addressed four crucial questions about the new system to help British holidaymakers travel with confidence.

What is the EES?

Paul explained: “The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new digital border control system for non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). It replaces manual passport stamping with electronic registration, improving border security and efficiency.

“Brits travelling to countries such as Spain, Portugal and Greece will now need to be prepared to have their passports scanned and biometric data taken at border control the first time they enter.”

What data is being collected and for how long?

Paul said that biometric information, including facial images (for all travellers) and fingerprints (for visa-exempt travellers only), will be collected. The system will also record passport information, entry and exit dates and locations, plus duration of stay. Information will be retained for three years for standard visits or five years if travellers overstay their permitted time.

Are there any exemptions to the EES?

Paul explained: “The EES does not apply to EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, non-EU nationals with specific residence permits and Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and Vatican nationals. Ireland and Cyprus are not part of the Schengen area where the system applies, so UK nationals travelling there will continue to be checked and stamped manually. Children under 12 will only have their facial image taken, not their fingerprints.”

How does EES work?

Paul said: “Travellers entering for the first time will undergo biometric registration at border kiosks or e-gates. This includes the system capturing a facial image, fingerprints (if visa-exempt), passport details and entry/exit information.

“For subsequent visits, the process will be faster due to the data already being stored. It’s important to note that no pre-registration is required – registration happens at the border during your first entry.

“Passengers may be impacted by facing longer queues initially due to biometric data collection, a process expected to take several minutes per person. Passengers should be encouraged to plan contingency options if travelling on a tight schedule (alternative routes or transport), as any teething problems or incomplete information could cause delays to miss flights, ferries, or connections.”

Preparing for EES border checks

Paul suggests this checklist:

1. Verify your passport expiry date (must remain valid for at least 3 months beyond your trip for EU destinations and be less than 10 years old)

2. Familiarise yourself with your destination airport’s EES setup (anticipate biometric checks)

3. Keep crucial travel documents at hand, including passports, travel insurance, accommodation confirmation, and proof of onward or return journey

Betty Brown, from County Durham, ran a Post Office with her late husband and was affected by the scandal

Betty Brown, 92, believed to be the oldest victim of the Post Office scandal said she was “disgusted” at the treatment of sub postmasters as she pledged to continue her fight.

Betty from County Durham, operated the Annfield Plain Post Office with her late husband. She has previously revealed that she spent thousands of pounds of her own savings covering shortfalls that never actually existed after faulty data made it appear money was missing from the branch.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Friday (October 10), she discussed the “heartbreak” the victims had suffered, reports Wales Online.

“Totally disgusted that a government could treat their own people in the manner that they have treated the sub postmasters,” she said.

“Every one of us, not only me, every one of us. They’ve killed a lot of them.”

Betty told the ITV programme’s presenters Kate Garraway and Adil Ray: “They haven’t taken the one iota of care to any of the people left on their own, the families left, the struggles that they’ve had to go through and all the heartbreak and everything associated with it.

“And they’ve stood back, not our fault, we don’t want anything to do with it and if, when they’re forced to do with it, it’s as little as possible and how they can turn it over upside down so that the blame doesn’t go on to them, it’s all the postmasters.”

Viewers at home were moved by Betty’s comments, with one writing on X: “Get a government minister on at the same time as Betty so she can get them told!!”

“I’m so sorry for Betty,” another person penned on the platform, previously known as X. “Another person let down by government after government like so many.”

The scandal and its magnitude have come to light in recent years, with the Post Office later expressing regret to those affected, stating they were “deeply sorry for the suffering caused to so many people by Post Office’s past actions”.

In a statement, the Post Office further added that “we will continue to learn from past mistakes and are committed to continuing to transform today’s Post Office, rebuild trust, and move forward for our current postmasters and the 10 million customers who rely on us each week”.

This week the government announced that all victims of the scandal who are claiming compensation will be entitled to free legal advice to help with appeals.

Good Morning Britain airs on ITV.

Eloise Barker, a writer for Responsible Travel, seeks out places to go when your kids have outgrown Lapland that are more affordable than the Finnish winter wonderland has become in recent years

Lapland, with its powdery snow, Northern Lights and Sámi culture, is popular for good reason, but its Santa Claus package holidays are pricey and book up fast: more and more people are visiting, some even taking extreme trips to visit for just one day.

Last year, we reported that the average price for a family holiday in Lapland from the UK was between £4,000 and £7,000.

But Europe is packed with winter wonderlands. You won’t find the big man in the red suit in these destinations – but you’ll still have a jolly good holiday…

Have you been on an amazing Christmas trip that you think Mirror readers would enjoy? We’d love to hear about it. Email [email protected]

Slovenia

All of Slovenia’s mountain resorts can be reached within 90 minutes from Ljubljana, its compact and pretty capital. There’s been almost €80 million of investment in infrastructure like ski lifts across multiple resorts, where you can also sled, snowshoe and go winter walking. The Post Office’s annual ski report noted that the cost of skiing in Slovenia’s Kranjska Gora resort had fallen 23.5% in the 2024/2025 season compared to the year before. Plus: the city of Celje transforms into a fairytale land in December, earning it the title ‘European City of Christmas 2025’.

• The average price of a double room in Slovenia is £121/night (Kayak).
• Direct flights from London to Ljubljana start at £29 in December; from Edinburgh, £76 (Skyscanner).

Slovakia

“Slovakia really is a very authentic, family-friendly winter destination and the High Tatras is still a hidden gem of Europe,” says Petr Ivanek, founder of Slovakia Explorer. “In comparison to the Alps or Lapland – British pounds go much further.”

There are thermal spas, water parks like Bešenova Aqua Park, and snowy High Tatras resorts, and the mountains are less crowded than at Zakopane on the Polish side of their slopes. Stop in Bratislava first: last year, the Post Office named Slovakia’s capital as Europe’s cheapest Christmas market destination.

• The average price of a double room in Slovakia is £96/night (Kayak).
• Direct flights from London to Bratislava in December start at £15; from Edinburgh, £26. Direct flights from London to Poprad start at £15 (Skyscanner).

Czech Republic

For all things Christmassy, consider the Czech Republic. Prices fell in the country last year, and Brno was voted European Capital of Christmas in 2024. Capital Prague remains a staple for Christmas markets and child-friendly activities, plus its public transport is free for children under 15. Fun fact: the Czech Republic has arguably the largest ice skating ‘rink’ in the world – at Lake Lipno, just outside the medieval fairytale town of Cesky Krumlov.

• The average price of a double room in the Czech Republic is £111/night (Kayak).
• Direct flights from London to Prague start at £26 in December; from Edinburgh, £42 (Skyscanner).

Romania

Swap the beaten track for wolf prints in the snow – in Transylvania, where villagers go Christmas carolling in traditional costume between beautifully decorated wooden houses.

You can ride about by horse-drawn sleigh or husky sled, and see atmospheric Brasov city and Bran Castle with beguiling snowy backdrops. Or switch the very old for the very new: an ice hotel, the only one in southeastern Europe, is built every year, 2,000m up in the Făgăraș Mountains.

• The average price of a double room in Romania is £83/night (Kayak).
• Direct flights from London to Brasov start at £56 in December (Skyscanner).

Bulgaria

“Two of Bulgaria’s national parks, Rila and Pirin, offer wonderful opportunities for winter holidays and for families interested in winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing,” says Anna Tuliyska at Sofia-based travel company Odysseia-In. The regions’ thermal springs also come into their own in cold weather. Whilst prices have risen in Bulgaria and may rise again when it adopts the euro in January 2026, the Post Office report ranked Bulgarian ski resorts among the cheapest in Europe in 2025.

• The average price of a double room in Bulgaria is £101/night (Kayak).
• Direct flights from London to Sofia start at £17 in December; from Edinburgh, £36 (Skyscanner).

Morocco

Morocco is not the baking hot destination you might expect in winter – average December temperatures are around 13°C, with highs in the 20s. Winter is an excellent time to take older kids to Morocco’s portion of the Sahara Desert.

Expect camel treks instead of husky rides, powdery sand not powdery snow, and sandboarding over snowboarding. Bolt on a stay in Marrakech for souks and stocking fillers – with the snowy peaks of the Atlas

Mountains framing the horizon. Prices drop in the winter months but can rise over Christmas.

• The average price of a double room in Morocco is £180/night (Kayak).
• Direct flights from London to Marrakech start at £15 in December; from Edinburgh, £31 (Skyscanner).