Overview
- The EU reinstated full Entry/Exit System checks on Monday, September 7, requiring third‑country nationals to create a digital EES record linking fingerprints, a facial image and passport data at external Schengen border controls.
- The April introduction already caused hours‑long queues and some missed flights, and several countries used temporary suspensions over the summer to ease delays.
- Border points continue to report technical and operational problems, with fingerprint kiosks said to be down at locations such as the Port of Dover and London St Pancras and some French crossing points facing outages.
- The European Commission says it will provide extra operational support and member states may use manual checks during a short adjustment window to keep traffic moving.
- Travellers should allow extra time, check passport validity because EES records are passport‑linked and last three years, note that children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting, and use the Travel to Europe app where available to pre‑register and shorten some steps.