New EU border checks for UK travellers to start on 12 October
The EU will roll out a digital border control system this autumn. UK travellers must register fingerprints and photos at kiosks, sparking fears of long queues.
What you need to know
🔹 The EU will launch a biometric border system for UK travellers from 12 October 2025.
🔹 Travellers must register fingerprints, photos, and trip details before entering Schengen countries.
🔹 Initial rollouts at Dover, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar may cause delays and long queues.
🔹 Full system aims to boost security, but early use may disrupt travel efficiency.
E urope is digitising its borders. The result? Faster travel—eventually. But first, expect queues.
EU’s new border checks: what UK travellers need to know
From 12 October 2025, UK visitors to Europe will start encountering the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES). This digital border control mechanism replaces manual passport stamping with biometric registration. Though intended to strengthen security and streamline travel, its phased introduction is expected to cause delays at several popular UK departure points.
What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EES is a new automated EU border control system for non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area, a zone encompassing 26 European countries, including top UK holiday destinations such as France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece.
Instead of having passports stamped, passengers will have their biometric data—fingerprints and facial photographs—collected and stored digitally. The aim is to track overstays and improve security across the EU.
CONTINUE READING...
Enjoy unlimited access now.
To get full access to this article,
simply become a member of EUROPEANS TODAY now.
By doing so, you will be supporting
our independent journalism.
MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS:
£3/month ∙ £5/month ∙ £7/month
You can cancel anytime.
BECOME A MEMBER
Already a member? Sign in here!
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP:
✅ Read exclusive member-only articles
✅ Read our daily review of the UK front pages
✅ Receive every new article by email
✅ Access all our articles
✅ Get Special Discounts with our partners
✅ Join the conversation: Comment our articles
✅ Access our archives
✅ More importantly: Support independent journalism and keep the magazine going
