Tips & Advice · 5 min read · Oct 23, 2025

What's happening with the EU's Entry Exit Scheme?

EES went live on Sunday 12 October 2025. Rollout is now under way and currently limited to a few locations.

Short on time? Let us summarise this guide for you.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) launched on 12 Oct 2025 and is being phased in over six months. At time of writing it's live in a lot of our favourite holiday destinations, including Tenerife from November 6th. Expect longer queues at some locations, including Prague. Manual passport stamping continues during the transition, with full switchover due by April 2026.

Travelling to the EU from now on? EES is live as of Sunday 12 October — but only at selected border points, with others joining over the next six months.

The EU has begun a phased rollout of its new Entry/Exit System. Because it's staggered, holidaymakers might encounter the new checks at some airports, ports and land borders — or still see manual passport stamping at others — depending on where and how they travel.

What is EES?

EES is a new digital border system for non-EU travellers (including UK citizens). On your first encounter you provide biometrics (fingerprints and a facial image); on later trips, the system matches your passport to that record automatically. It replaces manual passport stamping once the rollout completes.

The EU started introducing EES on 12 Oct 2025 and is phasing it in through to April 2026, so manual checks remain in place during the transition.

There's no pre-registration or fee for EES itself, and if you get a new passport you'll need to enrol again because your biometrics are linked to that document.

What countries are affected?

Live right now (initial activation): Tenerife, Czech Republic, Estonia, Luxembourg, Düsseldorf Airport (Germany) and Oslo Airport (Norway). Expect intermittent teething problems — Prague reported delays on day one which at time of writing (Weds Oct 15th) appear to be resolved.

Eventually: all Schengen-area countries (plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) will use EES once the rollout completes.

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

6 places to go to avoid EES

EES has started in a few locations. Want to dodge the queues for now? Travel to these destinations instead.

In Tips & Advice October 2025

What do I need to do?

If you're travelling now, build in extra time at passport control where EES is already active. If your route isn't live yet, you may still be stamped manually during the transition. There's nothing to apply for in advance for EES, and there's no charge.

What's the "phased roll-out" mean?

Only some border points switched on 12 Oct; others are coming online over the next six months. During this period, countries can ramp up usage in stages (for example, starting with a portion of travellers or lanes) and manual checks continue alongside the new system. Expect a mix of old and new until April 2026.

Unless you're travelling by Eurostar from St Pancras, the Port of Dover, or the Eurotunnel in Folkestone — where the checks happen at the UK end — what you experience will depend on your operator and departure point as facilities are introduced.

The EES data is linked to your passport, so if you get a new passport you'll need to provide your biometric data again.

Is it going to disrupt travel to the EU?

Short answer: The first full day at Prague airport saw delays of up to an hour and a half, as authorities insisted border guards took biometrics manually at the desks. By Wednesday of the first week though, one of the Holiday Extras team passed Czech border controls in Prague airport in twenty seconds, so the problems seem to have been short-lived.

Because the rollout is phased, the worst queues should ease as capacity ramps up. We'll keep this page updated as more locations go live and performance settles.

Can I just complete the biometric checks before I travel?

Not yet in most places. Pre-enrolment tools were planned, but aren't ready and, each country will decide whether and when to use them. We'll update if/when any allow pre-registration for visitors.

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

Then you won't be admitted. Many countries (like the USA) already require biometrics for visitors — EES brings a similar approach to Schengen borders.

What's it actually for?

People who don't live in the EU, which includes UK nationals, can visit for 90 days in any 180-day period. EES creates an electronic record of entries/exits so authorities can enforce that rule and reduce fraud. Once bedded in, it should speed repeat trips.

This also paves the way for ETIAS, which is due later.

What's ETIAS?

It's a visa-waiver-style travel authorisation that non-EU, visa-exempt visitors (including UK travellers) will need before they go. It's currently expected to start operating in the last quarter of 2026, cost around €20, and last for up to three years or until your passport expires — whichever comes first.

Unlike EES, you apply for ETIAS in advance. EES enrolment happens at the border the first time you encounter it.

How do I avoid the whole thing?

You've still got options if you want to avoid queues or don't want to provide biometrics right now.

Pick a destination or route that hasn't switched on yet, or avoid the Schengen Area entirely. Our map shows the countries that will ultimately use EES (the Schengen Area plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).

Within 4 hours you can fly to Ireland, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Albania, Morocco or Tunisia. Or go further afield — everywhere outside Europe from Canada to Bali is unaffected.

There are a few places outside the EU affected indirectly — such as the Vatican, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino — because reaching them usually means passing through an EES country.

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

Tips to avoid EES delays

• Give yourself extra time at border control where EES is live.
• Pick a destination that hasn't switched on yet.
• Travel off-peak or decide last-minute once operations look smooth.
• Only take hand luggage to speed things up.
• Check your passport validity (renewals reset your EES enrolment).