The EU’s new entry/exit system launches today – here’s what you need to know The EU’s new entry/exit system launches today – here’s what you need to know

The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to launch today (12 October).

Once fully implemented, travellers from destinations including the UK, the USA, Australia and Canada will no longer receive passport stamps when crossing an external EU border. Instead, their fingerprints and facial image will be recorded in an electronic system that will also make a note of entry and exit dates.

It is hoped that the new system will prevent overstays, make border checks more efficient, and improve security within the EU by combatting identity fraud.

Who does the EU’s new EES apply to?

The new EES applies to all non-EU nationals. This means anyone who is not travelling on a passport issued by any European Union country, or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. (This is because Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are part of the European Economic Area (EEA), while Switzerland is part of the single market.)

There are a few other exceptions, for example those studying abroad or holders of long-stay visas, and you can find details of this on the European Union website here.

Which countries will be implementing the Entry/Exit System?

The 29 countries introducing the system are as follows: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

It should be noted that the system only applies to external EU borders. This means that if you are travelling within the Schengen Area and pass an internal border (for example, if you drive between France and Germany), you will not be checked again.

When will the EES be rolled out?

The 29 countries who are part of the Entry/Exist System have six months to implement the system, with full implementation on 10 April 2026.

Countries including Czechia, Estonia and Luxembourg have confirmed they will be rolling out the system across all border crossing points from day one, reports The Independent. Czech authorities told the publication you will be able to pre-register at self-service kiosks.

What to expect at the border

When crossing a border for the first time after the EES roll-out begins, passport control officers will scan your fingerprints and take a photo of your face, and this information will be stored in a digital file. Fingerprint scans will not apply to children under the age of 12.

The European Union has said that some countries will unveil self-service systems, whereby travellers can register at the border either in-person at a kiosk or via an app, before the passport control officer will verify the information provided, although at the time of writing it is not known which destinations will do so.

As the system is being rolled out in phases, it is expected that manual passport stamping will continue to be in use until all 29 countries implement the EES. In the short term, you should also expect queues and delays at the border, so arrive at the airport in good time to avoid any travel complications.

The EU is also set to launch its ETIAS travel authorisation programme next year, although no details around the launch date have been released beyond that it will be “in the last quarter of 2026”. Valid for up to three years, or until the passport expires, the application costs €20 (£17.30) and will allow you to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

More information: travel-europe.europa.eu/ees