New EU border checks: the Entry/Exit System (EES)

Wednesday, 6 May 2026 at 16:00

If you’re travelling to Europe, border controls have changed. Since October 2025, the EU has been rolling out a new Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU nationals, including British and Jersey passport holders travelling to the Schengen Area.

What is EES?

EES is a digital border system that replaces manual passport stamping. It records the date and place of entry and exit and uses biometric data to monitor how long visitors stay in the Schengen Area.

What this means for travellers:

  • On your first trip after EES registration, you may need to provide fingerprints and a facial image at the border
  • Registration is completed at the airport, port or rail terminal – you do not apply in advance and there is no fee for EES.
  • Border checks can take longer than before, particularly during busy periods, so allow extra time when travelling.
  • EES will automatically enforce the 90 days in any 180-day period rule for stays in the Schengen Area. Overstaying can lead to fines, entry bans or refusal at the border on future trips.

The Schengen Area includes most EU countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Ireland and Cyprus are not included, so EES does not apply when travelling to those destinations.

 

What about ETIAS?

You may have heard about ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme.

Although ETIAS was originally expected earlier, it has not yet been introduced. Current guidance suggests ETIAS will be phased in after EES is fully operational, with implementation expected in late 2026 or later, and a further transition period before it becomes mandatory.

When introduced, ETIAS will require travellers from visa-free countries (including the UK and Jersey) to apply online and pay a small fee before travelling to most Schengen countries. We recommend keeping an eye on official updates and being wary of scam websites claiming to offer ETIAS applications early.

 

Passport checks still matter

Even with EES, passport validity rules remain critical. Your passport must:

  • Have been issued less than ten years before the date of arrival in the EU.
  • Be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date from the Schengen Area.
  • Effectively have around six months’ validity remaining at the time of travel, as this is often the practical check applied at borders.

Older passports may have been issued for more than ten years if extra months were added on early renewal, so it’s important to check careful

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