Switzerland Joins Uk, Germany, Netherlands, France, Austria, Italy, Greece And More As Impacted By New Eu Travel Rules: What You Need To Know About The Entry/exit System Starting October 12, 2025

Published on September 24, 2025

From October 12, 2025, UK travelers heading to Schengen area countries will acquisition awesome changes astatine separator crossings. The EU’s caller Entry/Exit System (EES) will require travelers to supply biometric data—such arsenic fingerprints and photographs—at nan border. This caller strategy is designed to heighten separator information and streamline introduction and exit for non-EU nationals. It will person a important effect connected really UK passport holders recreation to Europe, particularly successful position of processing times and caller procedures.

Although nan preamble of nan EES will amended information and ratio successful nan agelong run, travelers are advised to hole for immoderate first delays, peculiarly astatine high-traffic airports and terminals.

What Is nan Entry/Exit System (EES)?

The Entry/Exit System is portion of nan EU’s efforts to modernize separator controls and fortify its security measures for non-EU citizens. Under this system, travelers will request to scan their passport, supply a photograph, and scan their fingerprints erstwhile entering aliases leaving nan Schengen zone. These records will beryllium stored successful nan EU’s cardinal database, and nan process will thief authorities way nan activity of group much efficaciously crossed nan EU’s outer borders.

The EES will beryllium rolled retired gradually crossed nan Schengen zone, starting pinch definite countries and ports earlier expanding to each participating countries by April 2026. Initially, passengers will acquisition nan changes astatine awesome airports and Eurostar terminals.

How Will nan EES Impact UK Travelers?

For UK travelers readying to sojourn immoderate of nan Schengen area countries (including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein), nan EES system will require biometric information postulation nan first clip they recreation aft October 12, 2025. Here’s a breakdown of nan process:

Initial Entry Process

• Passport Scan: On presence astatine nan border, travelers will request to scan their passport astatine nan designated EES kiosk.
• Biometric Data Collection: Travelers will beryllium asked to supply fingerprints and a photograph for nan system. This information will beryllium stored for three years, meaning that travelers won’t request to supply this accusation again during consequent trips to nan Schengen zone, unless their passport expires.
• Family Exemption: Children nether 12 will not request to supply fingerprints, though they will still person their photograph taken arsenic portion of nan registration.

Subsequent Entries

For early trips wrong nan Schengen zone, travelers will only request to scan their passport and either scan their fingerprints aliases provide their photo. This streamlined process will make early recreation done nan EES strategy overmuch quicker.

Countries Affected by nan EES

The EES applies to each Schengen area countries, including:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

However, travelers to Ireland and Cyprus will not beryllium affected by nan EES arsenic they are not portion of nan Schengen area. These countries will proceed to usage nan previous separator power systems.

How Will nan EES Affect Travel to nan EU?

Longer Wait Times astatine First

One of nan main concerns pinch nan caller strategy is nan anticipation of longer waiting times astatine borders arsenic travelers get utilized to nan caller procedures. Although officials person assured that nan process will beryllium quick, it’s recommended that travelers arrive early to let other clip for nan biometric checks.

Port of Dover, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar Travelers

For those walking via nan Port of Dover, Eurotunnel, aliases Eurostar, nan EES system will beryllium implemented earlier departure from nan UK. Passengers will acquisition biometric checks astatine nan separator before they transverse into nan EU. This alteration is group to amended information but whitethorn besides consequence successful slightly longer processing times astatine these departure points.

Travel Tips for UK Travelers

To guarantee a soft acquisition erstwhile nan EES system launches, UK travelers should return statement of nan pursuing tips:

1. Plan for Delays: While nan strategy is designed to beryllium efficient, location whitethorn beryllium first delays arsenic airports and terminals set to nan caller procedures. Arriving earlier than usual astatine nan airdrome will thief minimize stress.
2. Check Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for astatine slightest 3 months beyond your planned departure from nan Schengen zone. If it’s nearing expiration, renew it earlier your trip.
3. Children Exemptions: If you’re walking pinch children nether 12, retrieve they won’t request to supply fingerprints, but their photograph will still beryllium taken.
4. Stay Informed: Keep an oculus connected airport and migration updates arsenic nan strategy rolls out. Some airports whitethorn still stamp passports until nan strategy is afloat operational by April 2026.
5. Allow Extra Time astatine Border Points: While nan strategy will yet velocity up separator crossing, springiness yourself other time, particularly during engaged recreation periods for illustration holidays aliases highest summertime months.

Key Points to Remember:

• EES system launches connected October 12, 2025, for UK travelers entering nan Schengen area.
• The caller strategy requires biometric information (photo and fingerprints) astatine separator points.
• Children nether 12 will not beryllium required to supply fingerprints.
• Ireland and Cyprus will not instrumentality nan EES system.
• Expect initial delays arsenic travelers set to nan caller system.
• The caller process will yet switch passport stamping crossed nan Schengen area by April 2026.

Final Thoughts

The EES system is simply a important displacement successful really UK travelers will interact pinch European borders. While nan modulation whitethorn lead to immoderate inconvenience astatine first, it will yet heighten separator information and efficiency. For those readying trips to Europe, it’s basal to beryllium prepared for these changes, ensuring that your passport and biometric data are correctly registered erstwhile you first recreation aft October 12, 2025. With a small preparation, travelers tin navigate nan caller strategy pinch easiness and bask a smoother travel done nan Schengen area successful nan years to come.