Introduction of European Entry-Exit Scheme (EES)

[route101]

If the chip in your passport has failed (particularly if verified next time by e-gates too) I'd look at getting a new one; coming back into the UK, there's a good chance of a significantly extended wait as its usually only a single officer manning the 'reject' lane.

Yes, next time I will check at an E gate, strange for it to stop working as it worked at E gate last week on previous trip back to UK.

 

[cool110]

Yes, next time I will check at an E gate, strange for it to stop working as it worked at E gate last week on previous trip back to UK.

Don't need to wait until then, can test it at home with an app.

 

[Howardh]

So after scanning but not stamping my passport on entry, just arrived back from Ibiza airport and there were no officers to stamp or even look at my passport, nothing to scan it into other than the gate, and there the scanner only wanted the ticket.

So unless the scan of the ticket is sufficient - which it should be as you put your passport number in when checking in - then hundreds of British travellers might have some explaining to do when they return.

When ETIAS comes in, I suppose in the worst case you could be banned?

Meanwhile I'll be going back in 10 days or so, assume it will be no different?!

 

[Belperpete]

My experience arriving at Prague was that the biometric scan was quick and straightforward. Face photo and finger prints taken and passport scanned. The terminal then asked some quick questions, including if I recall correctly how long I was intending to stay this trip, did I have travel insurance, and some questions about finances and accommodation. The whole thing probably took less than a minute. All passengers joining the non-EU passport queue were required to have registered on one of these terminals first. With a large number of these terminals available, both on the way to the exit and just before the passport check area, it added little delay.

On exit, each non-EU passport booth now has a fingerprint terminal, and a facial scanner similar to those on automatic passport gates. After you had your fingerprint and photo verified, the officer stamped the passport and let you pass. With a limited number of passport booths open, the extra time taken for the finger print and facial scanning significantly slowed down the processing of the queues.

I suspect that after passport stamping ends, people using the non-EU gates will still need to use these terminals every time they enter the EU, and likewise have their identity checked every time they exit. I suspect that even if we are allowed to use the automatic gates, we will still need to use these terminals first.

 

[pmcgurk]

That isn't really relevant to the EES, but for what it's worth, the UK authorities would say this cannot happen as a UK citizen is required to enter the UK on their UK passport

I can assure you this is categorically not the case. Some countries like the USA have this rule, but the UK does not. I am dual UK/IRL and have not used my UK passport in many years.

 

[Mojo]

I’ve got a long int’l - int’l connection at a Schengen airport coming up, is it possible to register my biometrics on the kiosks and then not pass through immigration, or will they not be saved unless I then proceed to enter?

 

[Belperpete]

I’ve got a long int’l - int’l connection at a Schengen airport coming up, is it possible to register my biometrics on the kiosks and then not pass through immigration, or will they not be saved unless I then proceed to enter?

Based on my experience at Prague, registering on one of these kiosks does not get you out of passing through immigration. If you are joining the non -EU passport queue at immigration, you are required to register on one of these terminals first, before joining the queue.

Anybody on the air side can register on one of these kiosks, as rows of them are dotted around the place (although most near the immigration area). Whether the details would still be accepted when you subsequently arrived at another airport is another matter. You would run the risk that by the time you reached the head of the immigration queue you would then be told to go back and register, and then have to queue up all over again.

 

[island]

I can assure you this is categorically not the case. Some countries like the USA have this rule, but the UK does not. I am dual UK/IRL and have not used my UK passport in many years.

Ireland is the exception, as with many things, but what I reported the Home Office as saying is accurate. https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta-factsheet-april-2025/

 

[MrJeeves]

Ireland is the exception, as with many things, but what I reported the Home Office as saying is accurate. https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta-factsheet-april-2025/

It's still not a rule, and is simply a strong recommendation.

Their response to someone's request for comment from 2022 still stands (except the identity card bit, of course!):

Dual nationals may choose to present a valid national passport in either of their nationalities at the UK border. However those who hold a UK passport may find it most straightforward to present this in order to prevent unnecessary delays on arrival. Where a dual national wishes to travel to the UK using their EU identity card instead of a passport, they will need to check the requirements of their carrier in advance of travel. Upon arrival in the UK, they should be aware that Border Force will need to undertake further checks to be satisfied as to their British nationality and this may result in delays.

Where a person cannot provide direct evidence of the nationality, they wish to enter the UK under (e.g. British passport), the Border Force officer must consider whether they are satisfied that the person is British. Relevant evidence to consider will be certificate of naturalisation, registration or entitlement, or proof that they were born in the UK, and evidence regarding the citizenship or status of their parents at the time of their birth. However, any dual national seeking to travel in this way should also be aware that Border Force may need to carry out further checks and that this may delay onward travel.

I mix and match which passport I enter the UK with, purely for fun to see what happens. Only once have I had any issue, and that was at Brussels taking the Eurostar where I was asked if I also had a British passport.

 

[m0ffy]

It's still not a rule, and is simply a strong recommendation.

Their response to someone's request for comment from 2022 still stands (except the identity card bit, of course!):


I mix and match which passport I enter the UK with, purely for fun to see what happens. Only once have I had any issue, and that was at Brussels taking the Eurostar where I was asked if I also had a British passport.

Out of interest, what is your other nationality?

 

[MrJeeves]

Out of interest, what is your other nationality?

Danish.

 

[FinsburyPark]

How will it work on the Newhaven - Dieppe ferry route.

There is no Juxtaposed controls and border control happens at Dieppe on the French side.

There are 2 return crossings in the non summer season and 3 return crossings in the summer season IIRC so its a sleepy route compared to Dover - Calais/Dunkirk.

How will this set up cope.

Dieppe isnt a very big port and the foot passenger terminal is pretty small as well.

It will be intersting to see how smaller Ferry routes will cope in general.

 

[Howardh]

How will it work on the Newhaven - Dieppe ferry route.

There is no Juxtaposed controls and border control happens at Dieppe on the French side.

There are 2 return crossings in the non summer season and 3 return crossings in the summer season IIRC so its a sleepy route compared to Dover - Calais/Dunkirk.

How will this set up cope.

Dieppe isnt a very big port and the foot passenger terminal is pretty small as well.

It will be intersting to see how smaller Ferry routes will cope in general.

There are ferries between Jersey/Guernsey and France; not sure if they are both foot and vehicle or just foot (day trips common). Point being, to date anyone from France has just needed their ID card so the Channel Isles governments will now only be able to accept passports and the UK's EEA system, and we of course have to follow Schengen protocols from there to France..

Wouldn't surprise me if tourism between F and CI dropped off, and the Isles wondering if it's better to have a Gibraltar-like system than the one coming, and they are in a virtual Schengen and we require the EES/ETIAS to go there? It's not beyond the bounds if locals feel they need to be British but aligned to their nearest neighbour for trade/business and tourism?

Think the odds on that are pretty low (not like Gibraltar where it was a virtual certainty), but it's not to be dismissed.

 

[Belperpete]

There are ferries between Jersey/Guernsey and France; not sure if they are both foot and vehicle or just foot (day trips common). Point being, to date anyone from France has just needed their ID card so the Channel Isles governments will now only be able to accept passports and the UK's EEA system, and we of course have to follow Schengen protocols from there to France..

Wouldn't surprise me if tourism between F and CI dropped off, and the Isles wondering if it's better to have a Gibraltar-like system than the one coming, and they are in a virtual Schengen and we require the EES/ETIAS to go there? It's not beyond the bounds if locals feel they need to be British but aligned to their nearest neighbour for trade/business and tourism?

Think the odds on that are pretty low (not like Gibraltar where it was a virtual certainty), but it's not to be dismissed.

Is a minute or so inputting your details at a kiosk really going to put people off travelling? I think some people (not helped by hysterics in the media) are blowing this up out of all proportion. Having gone through the process at Prague (Czechia decided to introduce it early), it really was pretty painless.

 

[Howardh]

Is a minute or so inputting your details at a kiosk really going to put people off travelling? I think some people (not helped by hysterics in the media) are blowing this up out of all proportion. Having gone through the process at Prague (Czechia decided to introduce it early), it really was pretty painless.

I think the issue there is requiring the French to have passports when many don't have or needed them for. European and UK travel, it's quite an expense and bother to obtain just to visit the UK or CI now it's compulsory.

 

[FinsburyPark]

Is a minute or so inputting your details at a kiosk really going to put people off travelling? I think some people (not helped by hysterics in the media) are blowing this up out of all proportion. Having gone through the process at Prague (Czechia decided to introduce it early), it really was pretty painless.

I was in Prague and the machined were up an running by on 17th September in Prague Airport.

That said aviation and Ferry transport are vastly different. Ferries are mainly vehicles.

The Port of Dover has spent a ton of money on getting everything right.

I do wonder, purely from a logistical sense how smaller ports and smaller UK and Channel Islands ferry routes will cope.

Dieppe port, which is the one I'm most familiar with isnt very big.

As I say it has 3 crossings in either direction in the summer season and 2 crossings either way at any other time of year.

Airports will have some teething problems but there is space to place the machines in most airports.

Vehicle travel is an entirely different game.

 

[Belperpete]

I was in Prague and the machined were up an running by on 17th September in Prague Airport.

That said aviation and Ferry transport are vastly different. Ferries are mainly vehicles.

Vehicle travel is an entirely different game.

The kiosks were up and running long before September, it is only recently that they have been insisting that you use them.

I think you are right about vehicle travel, it is probably going to be far more disruptive to vehicle travel. At an airport, you can just stop off at one of the kiosks on the way to passport control (I will probably stop at the first I find, in case there is a queue at the ones immediately before immigration). With vehicle travel, people are going to have to get out of their cars or coaches, which with mobility challenged passengers could take time.

 

[185143]

I arrived into Katowice on Thursday. Wasn't asked for fingerprints, but got my photo taken. The officer asked if it was my first time in Poland and wanted to see my hotel conformation, but that was it.

I'm on Eurostar back from Rotterdam on Monday. Interested to see the setup there, as I assume it's a small area.

All very different to last time I arrived in the Schengen area. Caught the ferry from Ireland, the French border officials didn't bother to turn up. So I got no passport check or processing in any way. That got me questioned in a side room at Amsterdam Centraal perhaps unsurprisingly!

 

[FinsburyPark]

The kiosks were up and running long before September, it is only recently that they have been insisting that you use them.

I think you are right about vehicle travel, it is probably going to be far more disruptive to vehicle travel. At an airport, you can just stop off at one of the kiosks on the way to passport control (I will probably stop at the first I find, in case there is a queue at the ones immediately before immigration). With vehicle travel, people are going to have to get out of their cars or coaches, which with mobility challenged passengers could take time.

Yes entirely.

Most airports will have some space in the arrivals corridors to place these machines not far from the Border control, but far enough away so they and people stopping to use them are unlikely to block the passage of people going directly to the border.

Of course not all airports will have the space though. YMMV

 

[Howardh]

Yes entirely.

Most airports will have some space in the arrivals corridors to place these machines not far from the Border control, but far enough away so they and people stopping to use them are unlikely to block the passage of people going directly to the border.

Of course not all airports will have the space though. YMMV

Ibiza has 10 such machines. I can't see it coping if three or four UK flights land at the same time, as they are before the e-gates (obviously!!) but there isn't much room for a queue to them, so presumably pax will be held on planes for the queue to diminish?

 

[eoff]

I see that there is now information on the situation in the Netherlands, and Schiphol which I will be using a couple of times in the next few months...

General Requirements:

Who needs to be registered in the EES at the Dutch border? | Government.nl

Check if you need to have your passport and fingerprints scanned and photo taken at the Dutch border. These will be registered in the European Entry/Exit System EES.

www.government.nl

Plans for different crossings...

Who needs to be registered in the EES at the Dutch border? | Government.nl

Check if you need to have your passport and fingerprints scanned and photo taken at the Dutch border. These will be registered in the European Entry/Exit System EES.

www.government.nl

For example for entering the Schengen area..


As of 3 November 2025 the following details may be registered in the Entry/Exit System (EES):

• your passport details
• your fingerprints
• a photo of your face.

The date, time and border crossing location may also be stored in the EES.
When you arrive at Schiphol Airport, follow the signs for non-EU passports. This will lead you to the EES self-service kiosks. Go to a kiosk to register your passport, facial image and fingerprints in the EES. You will then be directed to one of the routes for passport control: either the eGates or the staffed border control booths. Follow the indicated route.

Children under the age of 12 and people with certain disabilities cannot use the EES self-service kiosks or the eGates. They should go to a staffed border control booth where they will be seen by a border control officer. Passenger assistants are on hand to help passengers where necessary.
Until 10 April 2026, your travel document will still be stamped.

Passport stamps still for 6 months.

 

[Mojo]

One thing l can’t work out is will you need to use the kiosks on every visit, or just the first visit?

lf you search for it online you get articles saying only once (or with Al it comes up saying only once), but l cannot actually see where that is documented on any official website.

Having seen these kiosks at many airports l cannot see how the queues could be set up to only require it on the first visit.

 

[Hadders]

One thing l can’t work out is will you need to use the kiosks on every visit, or just the first visit?

lf you search for it online you get articles saying only once (or with Al it comes up saying only once), but l cannot actually see where that is documented on any official website.

Having seen these kiosks at many airports l cannot see how the queues could be set up to only require it on the first visit.

And if you only have to use the kiosks once, is there a way you can register your details in advance of travel?

I'm taking Eurostar from St Pancras in December and I pass through the station almost daily. I'd quite happily register my details ahead of travel if there are kiosks before you go through check-in and security.

 

[FinsburyPark]

Ibiza has 10 such machines. I can't see it coping if three or four UK flights land at the same time, as they are before the e-gates (obviously!!) but there isn't much room for a queue to them, so presumably pax will be held on planes for the queue to diminish?

Passengers held on planes would absolutely not work, the airlines would not accept it.

Ryanair has 25 minute turnaround times

Easyjet has 35-45 min turnaround times.

Thier flight schedules are made in such a way that the airlines would not accept this.

For the low cost airlines, every minute during turnaround is precious to flight scheduling.

Even a non low cost airline like BA might have a turnaround time of an hour (best guess) it would even affect the 'mainline' airlines flight schedules as well.

 

[Mike395]

And if you only have to use the kiosks once, is there a way you can register your details in advance of travel?

I'm taking Eurostar from St Pancras in December and I pass through the station almost daily. I'd quite happily register my details ahead of travel if there are kiosks before you go through check-in and security.

At least initially (until passport stamping ceases next April and we become eligible to use the Travel to Europe app for subsequent entries) you'll have to visit the kiosk on every entry.

That said, unless you're travelling in [Business] Premier or have a Carte Blanche card, Eurostar isn't planning on requiring EES registration until 12th January - so for a December trip, you'll likely skip the new process entirely.

 

[eoff]

And if you only have to use the kiosks once, is there a way you can register your details in advance of travel?

It looks like you may have to supply some details in advance (ETIAS)...

ETIAS Pre-Screening vs. EES Border Tracking​

If you come from a visa-exempt country such as Canada, Japan, or the UK, you’ll first need ETIAS authorization before traveling. This online pre-screening checks your background against security databases and approves your entry in advance.

Once you arrive at the border, the EES takes over, registering your fingerprints, facial image, and entry/exit details every time you cross into or out of Schengen territory.

EU Entry/Exit System: Everything Travelers Need to Prepare For

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will replace passport stamps with digital checks, affecting visa-exempt travelers. Learn how it impacts your trips.

etias.com

EDIT:
It is pointed out in a subsequent post that the site I linked above is not official, please refer to https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias for official information.

 

[signed]

It looks like you may have to supply some details in advance (ETIAS)...

ETIAS won't be in service until end of '26

 

[island]

ETIAS won't be in service until end of '26

And won't be mandatory until at least April 2027.

The website linked in post #328 is not an official website but a scam site set up to overcharge people for ETIASes when they eventually come in.

 

[Belperpete]

Ibiza has 10 such machines. I can't see it coping if three or four UK flights land at the same time, as they are before the e-gates (obviously!!) but there isn't much room for a queue to them, so presumably pax will be held on planes for the queue to diminish?

10 such kiosks seems a ridiculously small number. I get the impression that the Spanish are applying the "manyana" principle to implementing this, compared to the Czechs who seem to have been very proactive.

As I recall, Prague has 4 rows of kiosks (about 10 per row from memory ) immediately before passport control, with similar rows elsewhere around the terminal. There were reports of queues at Prague on the news recently, but I suspect that all that has happened is that the queues for the immigration booths have moved back to the kiosks. However, with significantly more kiosks than manned booths, people should be able to get through the kiosks faster than the passport officers ahead can deal with them.

Registering on the kiosks will eventually replace the passport stamping, but that does not necessarily mean it will replace the passport inspection. As I understand it, agreement has been reached in principle with the EU for UK citizens to use the e-gates, but it is up to individual countries whether or not they do so. Of course, if a country does not allow you to use the e-gates, you will still have to go through manual inspection.

From what I have read, while you will only have to register once, on subsequent visits you will still need to have your photo taken as a minimum, to verify that you are the passport owner. E-gates take your photo, so if we are allowed to use them, fine. But where we have to go through manual inspection, then either the manned booths will need a means of taking the photos, or we will still need to use the kiosks at least for the photo.

As I previously mentioned, at Prague, the manned passport inspection booths for departures have been fitted with fingerprint readers and cameras, which you have to use to verify your identity, but I didn't notice them on the arrivals booths. Presumably because arrivals will be using the kiosks.

 

[Howardh]

10 such kiosks seems a ridiculously small number. I get the impression that the Spanish are applying the "manyana" principle to implementing this, compared to the Czechs who seem to have been very proactive.

As I recall, Prague has 4 rows of kiosks (about 10 per row from memory ) immediately before passport control, with similar rows elsewhere around the terminal. There were reports of queues at Prague on the news recently, but I suspect that all that has happened is that the queues for the immigration booths have moved back to the kiosks. However, with significantly more kiosks than manned booths, people should be able to get through the kiosks faster than the passport officers ahead can deal with them.

Registering on the kiosks will eventually replace the passport stamping, but that does not necessarily mean it will replace the passport inspection. As I understand it, agreement has been reached in principle with the EU for UK citizens to use the e-gates, but it is up to individual countries whether or not they do so. Of course, if a country does not allow you to use the e-gates, you will still have to go through manual inspection.

From what I have read, while you will only have to register once, on subsequent visits you will still need to have your photo taken as a minimum, to verify that you are the passport owner. E-gates take your photo, so if we are allowed to use them, fine. But where we have to go through manual inspection, then either the manned booths will need a means of taking the photos, or we will still need to use the kiosks at least for the photo.

As I previously mentioned, at Prague, the manned passport inspection booths for departures have been fitted with fingerprint readers and cameras, which you have to use to verify your identity, but I didn't notice them on the arrivals booths. Presumably because arrivals will be using the kiosks.

Once protocolled; you should simply walk up to the e-gate, slip your passport in, maybe hand on a reader (what if you've lost some fingers??) and have your photo taken, and then that's it (how long will it take, 20-30 seconds?) - no more queues to get your passport stamped. Of course this only works if they do the exact same thing outbound so they know you've left. At the moment - as I alluded to - things have been lax at Ibiza r/e stamping so they will have to get their act together sharpish.

I imagine that once your bios are on the system you won't even need to insert the passport as your bio is your passport? Think though passports will always have to be carried if (a) the gates are "down" (b) for hotels and identification purposes. In fact that raises a question, if the system does go down, and three plane loads have arrived, then what? I suppose they would go back to manual stamping and scanning as back-up?

But bib; all Schengen countries are expected - nay compulsed - to have this in place by spring next year. Manual inspections will be for when the whole thing collapses!!