How The Eu’s Groundbreaking New Border System Will Make Your Travel Smarter, Faster, And More Secure Than Ever

Published on September 7, 2025

The EU’s caller integer separator system, group to beryllium introduced this autumn, intends to streamline recreation crossed Europe while enhancing security. Designed to switch nan accepted passport stamping process, nan Entry/Exit System (EES) will way non-EU citizens’ movements successful and retired of nan Schengen Area. This displacement to a afloat integer strategy promises to trim separator delays and amended efficiency, though concerns complete first queues and longer registration times person been raised. As nan strategy rolls retired gradually, it will yet supply a faster, much unafraid measurement to navigate Europe’s borders, benefiting some travelers and separator authorities.

Starting this autumn, UK travellers heading to Europe whitethorn announcement immoderate important changes astatine nan border. The European Union is group to present its much-anticipated integer separator system, nan Entry/Exit System (EES), which has been delayed for respective years. Although designed to heighten information and streamline travel, concerns persist astir imaginable delays, particularly during nan system’s first rollout.

What is nan EES and Where Will It Be Implemented?

The Entry/Exit System is simply a cutting-edge integer level designed to way nan introduction and exit of non-EU citizens wrong nan Schengen Area. The Schengen Area includes 29 European nations, chiefly wrong nan EU, allowing citizens to move freely crossed borders without nan request for passport controls. This includes celebrated destinations for UK visitors specified arsenic France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece.

EES will switch nan existent system, which relies connected individual passport checks and manual stamping by separator officers. With nan caller system, nan process will go afloat digital, improving some information and nan ratio of separator controls.

When Will EES Be Rolled Out?

After respective delays, nan European Commission has confirmed that nan EES will officially statesman connected 12 October. However, nan implementation will beryllium phased successful complete six months. The caller strategy will first beryllium introduced for passengers walking by coach from Dover, pinch different tourer postulation expected to travel starting 1 November. Eurostar terminals will besides statesman nan modulation much gradually, pinch only a prime group of business travellers utilizing nan caller strategy starting from 12 October.

Starting from 12 October, nan Eurotunnel, which runs conveyance shuttles done nan Channel Tunnel, will statesman implementing nan EES successful phases. The strategy is projected to beryllium afloat progressive astatine each Schengen separator crossings by 10 April 2026, covering each 29 participating countries.

How Will Passengers Interact pinch nan EES?

For those travelling from nan UK to Europe, nan first clip they usage nan EES, they will request to supply biometric data, including fingerprints and a photograph. This will beryllium required erstwhile passengers get astatine their destination, whether by plane, train, aliases ferry. Passengers walking by ferry from Dover, utilizing nan Eurotunnel, aliases taking nan Eurostar train will complete their registration astatine kiosks successful designated areas.

The registration process will impact scanning passports, capturing fingerprints, and taking a photo. A bid of questions will beryllium asked astir nan traveller’s trip, specified arsenic confirming accommodation and financial means. Children nether 12 are exempt from fingerprinting. Staff will beryllium disposable astatine these kiosks to assistance if necessary.

Eurostar has group up 49 EES kiosks crossed 3 zones wrong London’s St. Pancras station. Passengers will request to complete their registration astatine these kiosks earlier proceeding to nan departure area to coming their tickets. However, for nan clip being, passport stamps will still beryllium utilized manually astatine Eurostar terminals until EES is afloat implemented successful 2026.

Eurotunnel, which operates conveyance shuttles done nan Channel Tunnel, has placed much than 100 kiosks astatine some ends of nan journey. While a mobile app has been developed to facilitate portion of nan registration process earlier reaching nan border, it will not beryllium wide utilized erstwhile nan strategy first rolls out.

The information captured during nan registration will stay valid for 3 years, allowing passengers to usage nan EES strategy for early trips wrong that play without having to re-register.

What Concerns Have Been Raised?

There are valid concerns that nan first implementation of nan EES could lead to important delays, particularly astatine engaged separator points for illustration Dover. Given nan port’s constricted space, location are fears that agelong queues could shape arsenic travellers acquisition registration. Originally, Dover considered providing tablet devices for passengers to complete nan registration process wrong their vehicles. However, caller plans propose that kiosks will besides beryllium deployed astatine nan larboard to negociate nan process much efficiently.

During nan first shape of nan system’s rollout, Dover will person nan action to temporarily suspend EES and revert to manual passport checks if queues go unmanageable. Eurostar is hoping that by limiting nan number of travellers who will usage nan strategy initially, they tin debar ample crowds and minimize hold times.

What Is ETIAS and How Does It Connect to nan EES?

In summation to EES, nan EU is besides introducing nan European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will require non-EU travellers to use for an online authorisation earlier visiting Europe. This strategy is designed to heighten information and streamline nan process of entering nan Schengen Area.

ETIAS will beryllium implemented by nan extremity of 2026, but nan nonstop commencement day has yet to beryllium confirmed. It will costs €20 per application, and nan authorisation will beryllium valid for 3 years. However, individuals nether nan property of 18 and complete nan property of 70 will beryllium exempt from nan fee, though they will still request to use for recreation authorisation.

This strategy will complement nan EES by providing an further furniture of information and power for travellers. While EES tracks introduction and exit, ETIAS ensures that travellers person nan due support to sojourn earlier they moreover arrive.

The rollout of nan EES strategy is an important measurement successful modernising separator power successful Europe, offering enhanced information and smoother recreation successful nan agelong term. While nan modulation whitethorn origin immoderate first disruption, nan phased attack is designed to mitigate imaginable issues, specified arsenic agelong queues and delays. Travellers heading to Europe from nan UK should hole for these changes by familiarising themselves pinch nan caller procedures and ensuring they complete nan basal registration erstwhile crossing nan border.