Overview
- The Entry/Exit System starts on October 12 for non‑EU short‑stay visitors at external Schengen borders, replacing passport stamps with a digital record for 29 countries but not Ireland or Cyprus.
- Activation will expand in stages through April 10, 2026, with limited sites at launch, broader biometric capture from December, and full coverage targeted by spring.
- UK departure hubs with French controls have installed large banks of kiosks, including 49 at London St Pancras and 224 at Eurotunnel Folkestone, with Eurostar enrolling premier customers first and all passengers from January 12.
- Eurotunnel will register coaches and trucks from October before cars later in 2025, operators estimate about two minutes per person, and systems can be throttled or paused as a crowd‑control ‘fire break’ if needed.
- Travellers may be asked four Schengen Border Code questions at registration, with ‘no’ answers triggering an officer interview, data are typically kept for three years, children under 12 do not provide fingerprints, and a separate ETIAS authorization is due in 2026 with a €20 fee.