An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
After years of delay, the European Union has begun rolling out its long-planned Entry/Exit System (EES) – a digital frontier designed to record and manage the movements of travellers from non-EU countries. Covering all 29 states of the Schengen Area, the scheme marks one of the most significant overhauls of border control in modern European history.
Under the new system, each traveller’s entry and exit will be logged automatically for three years. Instead of a passport stamp, non-EU visitors will have their fingerprints and facial images captured and stored electronically. The European Commission says the EES will strengthen security, curb overstays, and, in time, make travel smoother. But the transition will not be without friction.
“For millions of British and other non-EU travellers, crossing into Europe will soon mean smiling for the scanner rather than waiting for a stamp”
Implementation began on 12 October, following repeated postponements, and will continue in stages over six months. Initially, only a limited number of passengers – mainly business travellers – are being asked to use the new kiosks at London St Pancras and Dover before wider adoption across the Channel Tunnel and European airports. The system is expected to be fully operational at all Schengen border points by April 2026.
So far, the procedure is straightforward but noticeably slower. The first time they travel, passengers from non-EU countries must register their biometric data while scanning their passports, either at a self-service kiosk or with a border officer. The screen prompts them to answer four short questions about their trip, including their destination and proof of funds. Children under twelve are exempt from fingerprinting.
At airports, this registration takes place on arrival. For those travelling by Eurostar, Eurotunnel or Dover ferry, the process happens before departure from the United Kingdom. Eurostar has installed 49 automated kiosks at St Pancras, while Eurotunnel has deployed more than a hundred at each terminal. A mobile app has been developed to allow passengers to complete parts of the process before reaching the border, although it will not be widely used during the initial phase.
The system’s supporters argue that gradual implementation – rather than a “big bang” launch—will prevent the long queues many fear. Still, the Port of Dover, which has had to reclaim land to expand its processing area, expects some teething problems as travellers adjust.
Once operational, the EES will feed into another digital initiative, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a visa-waiver scheme scheduled to start at the end of 2026. For millions of British and other non-EU travellers, crossing into Europe will soon mean smiling for the scanner rather than waiting for a stamp.
