UK travellers face major border changes as EU biometric system rolls out

UK citizens travelling to and from Europe will face sweeping changes at borders this year and next as the European Union begins rolling out its long-delayed Entry-Exit System (EES), a new biometric border control scheme.

The system officially launched on October 12, but only some countries have so far switched to it. By April 2026, it is expected to be fully operational at all Schengen border crossings, fundamentally changing how non-EU travellers, including Britons, enter and leave the bloc, The Independent writes.

The Schengen area includes most EU countries except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

What is EES?

The EES is designed to: identify suspected criminals; combat identity fraud; enforce the rule limiting non-EU visitors to 90 days’ stay in any 180-day period

Under the new system, British travellers will undergo biometric checks. On their first encounter with the EES, travellers will be required to provide four fingerprints (except children under 12) and a facial scan. This data will be stored in a central EU database.

At airports, ports and land borders, travellers will be checked on both entry and exit. During and after the rollout, border officers may also ask for proof of financial means and evidence that the traveller intends to leave after a short stay, as they already can under current rules. France has additionally introduced a requirement for visitors to have medical insurance.

Once registered in the system, subsequent trips will usually require only a facial scan.

During the transition period, travellers should expect longer queues because passports will still be stamped manually while biometrics are also being collected — a situation described by officials as “double red tape”.

Rollout Timeline

According to EU plans cited, the key dates are:

January 10, 2026

By this date, member states should operate the EES — including biometric checks — at at least half of their border crossing points. However, only 35% of travellers must be registered at this stage. This means major tourist countries such as Spain, Italy or Greece may initially avoid deploying the system at their busiest airports.

March 11, 2026

All border crossing points must be biometric-enabled, and at least half of all travellers must be registered in the central database.

March 31, 2026

By this point, every non-EU traveller entering or leaving the Schengen area should be registered in the system.

April 9, 2026

Manual passport stamping must continue until this date. If the system is functioning properly, stamping is expected to end at midnight.

Six months after the EES is fully rolled out, the EU plans to introduce the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), an online travel permit similar to the US ESTA system.

October 9, 2026 (estimated)

Etias is expected to launch but will not yet be mandatory. The permit will cost €20 nd be valid for three years. Travellers under 18 or over 70 will still need to apply but will not have to pay. A six-month grace period will apply, but airlines may still refuse boarding to passengers who cannot show an Etias.

April 9, 2027 (estimated)

Etias is expected to become mandatory for UK travellers visiting the Schengen area.

By Sabina Mammadli