What in the world is EES?

Last updated: Fri 23rd August

Planning on travelling to the EU after 10th November? You'll need to know about EES and how it could affect your travels.

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What is EES?

EES, or the EU's creatively named Entry/Exit System, is a new automated passport checking system expected to come into use on 10th November this year. (Previously this article said it would be either 10th or 17th - the EU confirmed on 20th August that the scheme would go live on November 10th.)

At the moment when we visit the EU we have our passports checked and stamped manually, but this is going to be replaced with a more modern and efficient system – the EES.

It will collect biometric data (your fingerprint and a photo of your face) the first time you visit the EU. Then it will check your passport against that data on all your following visits.

The idea is that it will drastically speed up the process by automating everything, but the reality is that the initial roll-out will cause delays. This is because each visitor will have to provide biometric data for the first time using the new technology, which will take a bit longer than any future automated checks, or the current manual system.

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What countries are affected?

Here's the full list:

Austria	Belgium	Bulgaria
Czech Republic	Croatia	Denmark
Estonia	Finland	France
Germany	Greece	Hungary
Iceland	Italy	Latvia
Liechtenstein	Lithuania	Luxembourg
Malta	Netherlands	Norway
Poland	Portugal	Romania
Slovakia	Slovenia	Spain
Sweden	Switzerland

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What do I need to do?

Right now you don't need to do anything – if you're travelling before the scheme kicks in on 10th November then nothing will change for you and you don't need to worry.

If you're travelling after this then you'll notice the change when you get to an EU port or airport. When you arrive your face and fingerprints will be scanned and stored, and then every time you visit the EU the automatic barriers will check your passport against your biometric data on file.

Unless you're travelling by Eurostar from St Pancras, from the Port of Dover, or from Eurotunnel in Folkestone – in which case the checks will happen at the UK end.

The EES data is linked to your passport, so if you get a new passport you'll need to provide your biometric data again. So if your passport is close to expiring it might be worth renewing it a bit earlier to save yourself some hassle later on.

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Is it going to disrupt travel to the EU?

Short answer? Probably, at least to start with. When Slovenia tested the new tech they said it would take four times as long to process arrivals.

The original plan was that every single visitor would have to go through biometric data capture from day one. But the EU has now agreed to a compromise where the local officials can decide, depending on how bad the queues are, to process anything between 10% and 100% of visitors. So if the system turns out to run very slowly they have discretion to get people through faster.

That means the queues and delays won't be as bad as originally thought. But the Port of Dover expects fairly severe delays, and different airports around the EU will have made better or worse preparations. Plus individual airports will use their discretion differently.

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Can I just do it before I travel?

Currently, no - the tech that would make that work isn't ready in time for the roll-out of the new system. There's an app being built, but not in time. So you'll need to do the biometric checks when you travel.

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What if I don't want my biometric data stored by the EU?

Then they won't let you in. Some countries, like the USA, already require biometric data from visitors so it's not completely new.

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What's it actually for?

People who don't live in the EU, which includes UK nationals, are only allowed to visit for 90 days in any 180 day period. There isn't currently a database of who's visited, so the EU can't enforce the 90-day rule with their manual system.

This electronic database should be quicker in the long run, once all the initial expected delays settle down. And it's the precursor to the new ETIAS scheme which should launch some time next year in May or November.

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What's ETIAS?

ETIAS is different from EES.

It's a visa waiver programme that anyone visiting the EU from outside (which includes UK nationals) will need to buy to be allowed in. It'll cost around £6 for anyone between 18 and 70 – anyone outside of those ages can get it for free. It'll last for three years or until your passport runs out – whichever is sooner.

Unlike the EES, you will need to apply for the ETIAS before you travel.

May 2025 is when ETIAS is expected to start operating, at which point it will be optional.

November 2025 is when ETIAS is expected to become (sort of) mandatory, at which point you'll (sort of) need to have it to visit the countries affected. However, each traveller is expected to get a once-only pass to travel without an ETIAS during a "grace period", so even once it becomes mandatory you can visit once without it.

May 2026 (yes, that's a fair way off) is when the grace period is expected to end, at which point ETIAS becomes fully mandatory and you'll need it to get in.

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How do I avoid the whole thing?

You've got a few options if you want to avoid the inevitable delays or don't want to give the EU your biometric data.

The simplest way is to travel before 10th November 2024 when the EES scheme kicks in.

Or avoid the EU Schengen Zone entirely. Our map shows you everywhere that's part of the scheme, which covers the whole EU Schengen Zone plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Within 4 hours you can fly to Ireland, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Albania, Morocco or Tunisia. Or if you don't mind flying further than that then everywhere outside of Europe from the USA to Bali is entirely unaffected.

It's worth knowing there are a few places outside of the EU which are affected by the scheme, including the Vatican, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, which are difficult to reach without passing through an EU country.

We've also put together some tips to help you avoid as much hassle as possible.

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Tips to avoid EES delays

• Time your trip to miss the initial delays. So either before 10th November or well after it once the scheme beds in.
• Pick a destination that's not affected.
• Book last minute – wait until the scheme has started and see which airports are handling it the best.
• Avoid the Port of Dover until the delays are managed.
• Only take hand luggage. Pay a little extra to sit at the front of the plane and try to be the first off – the queues won't seem as long if you're closer to the front!
• Check your passport. If it runs out soon after your biometrics are recorded you'll have to go through the process again. So you may as well renew it first.

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