Overview

• The Entry/Exit System went live on October 12 across 29 Schengen countries in a phased deployment, with manual passport stamping continuing during the transition.
• On first entry, most non‑EU travelers must register fingerprints and a facial photo; children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting and refusal to provide biometrics results in denial of entry.
• For UK routes at Dover, Eurotunnel (Folkestone) and Eurostar at St Pancras, EES registration occurs before departure, with new kiosks and facilities in place.
• Authorities and travel groups warn of slower processing in the early weeks, advising extra time for journeys, and border officials can temporarily suspend EES checks to ease excessive queues.
• EES records are retained for about three years and accessible to border and law‑enforcement authorities; full implementation is due by April 10, 2026, with ETIAS pre‑travel authorisation expected to follow in late 2026 for a small fee.