Major changes are being implemented across Europe that will affect British travellers over the festive period
The Foreign Office has issued an alert to any Brit travelling to Europe throughout the winter period. Since October 2025, the European Union has begun rolling out its new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires non-EU citizens, including Brits, to register their biometric data at the border.
This can include needing to have your facial photograph taken and you fingerprint scanned. This initiative is being launched across numerous airports in the Schengen area with the aim of reducing lengthy queues at passport control.
The data gathered by the system will be used to create a digital record linked to each traveller’s passport. A wide variety of countries in the EU have either already brought in the new system, or are in the proceess of doing so.
Writing on X, the FCDO Travel Advice wrote: “Travelling to Europe for the winter markets? The EU has introduced new border checks.
“Your fingerprints and photo may be taken at the EU border.” Despite this, It’s understood that manual passport stamping will continue alongside EES registration across the Schengen area for the first six months of the scheme’s implementation.
All the countries that use EES
Currently, the following countries will have EES applied to them, according to the EU:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Further guidance from the Foreign Office states: “If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.”
The only exception to the process at the border in a Schengen country is if you enter a Schengen area through the Port of Dover, St Pancras International, or Eurotunnel at Folkestone. In these cases, you will be required to make the EES check before leaving the UK.
The Foreign Office adds: “Your digital EES record is valid for 3 years. If you enter the Schengen area again during this time, you will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border, when you enter and exit.”
People who do not have to register on EES
Some travellers may not need to register their biometric data on the new system. According to the EU website, you do not need to use the system if the following apply:
- You are a non-EU national who holds a residence card or permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel through Europe like an EU citizen
- You are a national of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and hold a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See
- You are a diplomat on a short stay (under certain conditions)
- You are a national of a European country using EES, such as Cyprus and Ireland
- People exempt from border checks dueto certain privileges e.g. a head of state
- You are a non-EU national who holds a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national
- You hold a residence permit or long-stay visa
- You are a non-EU national travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer for the purpose of research, studies, training, pupil exchange, voluntary services, educational projects, or au-pairing