Overview

• Non‑EU visitors, including UK, US and Australian passport holders, must provide fingerprints and a facial photo on first entry, replacing passport stamping across Schengen borders.
• EES activation begins on 12 October 2025 and will be introduced progressively at external crossing points, with full implementation targeted by 10 April 2026.
• Registration creates a digital entry/exit record valid for three years, with later trips typically requiring only a scan and biometric verification; no pre‑registration or fee is required.
• At Dover, Folkestone and London St Pancras, some checks will be completed before departure following £10.5 million in UK upgrades, and officials warn initial waits may lengthen even though per‑person checks are expected to take 1–2 minutes.
• Children under 12 will not be fingerprinted, Ireland and Cyprus are outside the scheme, and overstays flagged by the system can trigger detention, fines, removal or future entry bans.