How all non-European Union citizens, including British visitors, travel to and from the bloc has changed from today as its long-delayed new biometric entry-check system started operations.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will require all non-EU nationals arriving for short stays in all EU countries – except Cyprus and Ireland – to provide their passport number and fingerprints, and have their photo taken at automated kiosks.

The same requirements will apply in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway – members of the EU-based but wider European Economic Area – and Switzerland.

The bloc's biggest countries, including France and Germany, will carry out only a handful of checks in a bid to avoid huge queues at airports.

"This is a significant step towards a more secure and efficient border management system for the EU," said EU spokesman Markus Lammert.

Data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossings with full implementation by April 10, 2026, giving the EU confidence there will not be long queues at the border.

Why is the EU introducing this new system?

The new electronic system will remove the requirement to manually stamp passports at the EU’s external border and instead create digital records that link a travel document to a person's identity using biometrics.

It will not require visas to obtain visas before travel.

The EU wants to modernize the management of its external borders, prevent illegal migration, combat identity fraud, and identify overstayers.

It will monitor whether people who are travelling to the bloc without a visa are sticking to its rule limiting visitors to 90 days' stay within any 180-day period.

What are the changes?

Anyone arriving in the Schengen area for the first time will have to scan their passports, register their fingerprints and provide a facial scan.

On departure, travelers' details will be checked against the EES database to confirm compliance with existing rules on time limits of stay and register departure.

Subsequent journeys will only require facial biometric verification.

Children under 12 will need to be registered under EES but will just have their photograph taken. Travellers do not have to pay for EES.

Where will the checks take place?

On arrival at international airports, ports, train terminals and road border crossings in the Schengen area.

But at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone and Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras – EES registration will be required on departure from the UK, overseen by French border officials. Travelers arriving at their destination won’t need to do the check again until their departure.

Will it cause delays at the border?

Because EES is being gradually introduced, the EU is confident there will not be significant disruption.

Border officials will be able to suspend checks for short periods if processing times become excessively long.

At both the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone only freight and coach traffic will be subject to EES checks from October 12.

Passenger vehicle checks will follow in November at Dover and by the end of the year at Eurotunnel. Eurostar has said it will gradually introduce the new border procedures.

The British government has, however, advised travelers to allow more time for their journeys as the new EU systems bed in, while Britain's Road Haulage Association has said there may be longer waits at busy times.

The big test will be holiday traffic at Easter 2026 and the following summer when many families travel for the first time after the introduction of the new system.

Further changes in 2026

EES is a precursor to another system that is slated to become operational in late 2026 – the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

Non-Schengen area citizens will then need to apply for an ETIAS authorization, provide personal information and details about their trip and pay a €20 fee before they travel.

The authorization will be valid for three years or until a passport expires, whichever comes first.

Since April, European visitors to Britain have had to purchase an electronic permit in advance for trips.