Overview

• On first entry after launch, non‑EU short‑stay travellers will scan their passports and have fingerprints and a facial photo taken to create a digital record.
• The system covers Schengen countries and associated states but does not apply when travelling to the Republic of Ireland or Cyprus.
• Registration is free, completed at the border with no pre‑travel steps required, and children under 12 are photographed but not fingerprinted.
• Records remain valid for three years, so subsequent trips within that period generally require only a quick biometric check instead of full re‑enrolment.
• EES will be introduced progressively to April 10, 2026, with UK ports at Dover, Folkestone and St Pancras conducting checks before departure using newly funded equipment, and officials warning of longer waits during the transition.