Overview

• Initial operations start on 12 October at selected borders, with a six‑month phased rollout leading to full implementation by 10 April 2026.
• Non‑EU short‑stay visitors to 29 Schengen and associated countries must provide fingerprints and a facial image on first entry, with registration valid for three years or until the passport expires.
• Biometric data are converted into templates stored in the EU’s shared Biometric Matching Service, and entry/exit records are kept for roughly three years under EU data‑protection rules.
• For UK journeys via Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar, checks occur before departure with £10.5m in UK support for infrastructure, while most air passengers complete the process on arrival.
• Authorities say checks take one to two minutes per person, though industry groups warn of initial queues, and some sites will continue passport stamping or temporarily pause checks during the transition.