You now need to provide biometric data, such as fingerprints and face scans, and other information about your travel plans when visiting Europe
After years of planning, endless delays and a final “grace period” that ran from last October to April 10, 2026, the new European Entry-Exit System (EES) is now operating.
When you travel to Europe or any of the countries that are part of the Schengen agreement – there’s a full list here – you will need to provide biometric data (fingerprints and face scans) and other information about your travel plans. This won’t cost you anything, but it’s not optional.
For travellers used to the relatively painless process of entering and exiting a European country, you may find yourselves facing long queues or even risking missing flights if you don’t clear passport control on time.
The news has been filled with images of grumpy travellers stuck in humungous queues at airports, with reports of people fainting and tempers fraying. Yet the EU says most people are being processed in seconds to minutes.
So what’s going on? Can you provide this information in advance? And what if you miss your flight? Here’s my guide.
What’s the problem?
Ever since the EES rules were announced, experts like me and my fellow broadcasters have been warning that the “minor” delays arising as a result of the new data gathering requirements could actually lead to long waits.
Though we were told that delays of up to ten minutes were possible (longer at ports), what I was being advised off the record was that these times were very likely to be much longer if the airport or point of entry wasn’t fully prepared.
Because your data will be gathered at the first point where you arrive at your destination, this could lead to significant tailbacks if there are lots of people to process or the point of arrival is small and understaffed. Big tourist destinations could also be hit with queues as the summer season gets underway.
For most trips, your point of arrival will be an airport. Not when you go through security in the UK, but when you get off the plane at the other end.
The exception to this is Eurostar, where you can register your details in booths at St Pancras station. This is because you go through French security when entering the Eurostar terminal, as well as UK security. And no, you can’t use the booths to jump the queue if you are going via a route that isn’t Eurostar, as far as I can tell.
Understanding the practicalities of this has been rather tricky. For example, in my head, I imagined a wonderful world where you provided the data once, then sailed through the security points each subsequent time you travelled to Europe, while your fellow Brits queued to give their biometric data separately.
In reality, it seems the EU/Non-EU queues may not be that specific. So you could be in a queue even if you’ve provided the EES data requirements already. There have also been reports that passenger e-gates at the bigger airports (that should solve this problem) are not fully compliant yet.
In addition, you may also be required to provide some data again when you leave your holiday destination. So once you’ve cleared security and settled down airside for a final post-holiday cocktail, don’t forget that you still have to get through the final passport / security check where you may need to provide fingerprints again, for example.
This seems to be how people have missed their flights home, despite having already checked in.
Worryingly, you aren’t likely to be able to claim compensation from the airline if the plane leaves without you. That’s because passport control and security checks fall under the boarder forces and airports/ports of the country in question. You could, in theory, seek compensation from the organisation responsible for the delay, but this is complicated.
The easyJet enigma
In a recent incident at Milan’s Linate airport, over 100 people were stuck in queues at border control for a reported three hours and subsequently missed their easyJet flight.
It’s important to distinguish “security” – where your hand luggage is scanned – and “border control”, the last point where your passport is checked while you are airside when talking about this incident.
Most people tend to relax once their bags have gone through the scanner and they’ve slipped their belts and shoes back on. But don’t forget that after a bit of duty free shopping and a few drinks or a bite to eat, you still have to go through passport control when going to your gate.
Gates aren’t often called early – certainly not three hours early – so it’s hard to see what these passengers could have done in this situation. It’s clearly not their fault that they missed the flight. But easyJet have pointed out that the problem is with security not them.
Low cost airlines tend to run their flights on very tight schedules, which is why you often see a line of bored passengers waiting to board the plane you’re disembarking from. So they can’t delay their flights without causing other delays to the subsequent ones. However, other airlines have been able to do this.
So is the airline at fault for not allowing wriggle-room in their schedules? Officially, no. But despite my best efforts, no official organisation has been able to tell me how people can seek compensation when left in this position.
Are we being punished for Brexit?
When the UK left the European Union, we found ourselves subject to the same entry and exit rules as other countries as we opted out of ‘free movement’ between Schengen countries.
However, the EES rules aren’t targeting Brits. All countries not in the Schengen zone will have to provide this data. So we’ll all be shipped in to the ‘non-EU’ lines at airports and other entry points.
And before leavers get all worked up about Brussels Bureaucracy, travellers coming from the EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have already been doing something similar for months, because from 02 April 2025, they had to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK . Irish citizens are the only exception.
Some airlines have rather unhelpfully blamed Brexit for the length of security queues at airports. However, the practicalities of gathering the required data as you enter and exit an EU country are down to the countries themselves and the provisions made at each airport or point of entry.
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) explained
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is the official name for a new process that records details that identify you when you travel to the EU. You’ll need to register:
- Your name
- Travel documents
- Fingerprints
- Facial scans
The last two bits of data are known as “biometric scans””. Over time, this should make traveling between countries quicker and the system will mean your passport won’t need to be stamped. The process will be free, but if you are a libertarian: tough. You don’t have a choice.
You will be required to provide the EES data on the first occasion you travel to the EU after its introduction. This could be on arrival and departure at:
- An airport
- A port
- At a border crossing within the EU
- The Eurostar (booths are available in St Pancras station)
If you live to cruise the oceans, you’ll be exempt, unless you’re traveling to another destination, though it makes sense to keep your travel documents with you, just in case.
The rules state that your data will be collected at the border crossing point for the first time. The EES website says that some data can be collected in advance, but don’t get too excited. This is not in place yet. So no: you can’t register your data in advance of travel at present.
Ultimately, the rules will make travel to and between EU countries easier at border control. But it also means that the EU knows exactly how long you’ve been in member countries in total.
This matters because when you enter countries in the Schengen area you must not stay more than 90 days in total every 180 days. It doesn’t matter how many countries you visit, or how long you stay for each time.
The 180 day period is ‘rolling’ so if you don’t travel for a bit, then previous time in the zone will no longer count. See the official advice on GOV.UK.
Will I have to explain why I’m traveling?
While the new EES rules allow member states to ask you questions about your stay, this isn’t a new development. You’ve potentially had to answer questions about your stay at the border since we left the EU. But not many UK citizens will have experienced this in Europe before.
It’s likely that these questions will become more common with the implementation of the new rules – for example as the system moves online. These questions aren’t set in stone, but could include:
- How long you intend to stay
- When you are leaving and if you have a return ticket
- Where you are staying
- If you are moving between countries
- If you have sufficient funds to pay for your holiday
- The purpose of your visit
It’s recommended that you have proof of these things (hotel bookings, bank statements on an app) handy when you travel. .
ETIAS and the visa waiver
And that’s not all! Soon you’ll need a visa to enter Europe. This is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System – or ETIAS for short.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a travel authorisation that will be required for citizens from many non-EU locations (including the UK) to enter 30 European countries.
The ETIAS will involve a fee of €20 (up from the originally quoted €7). I’ve been told it will only take a few minutes to apply for. You should be able to do this in advance, though the system is not ready yet.
Applying in advance is most certainly recommended because in some circumstances when further checks are required approval time could be extended to 14 days.
You’ll need to make sure all the details on your approved ETIAS are correct or you could get turned away at the border. Your ETIAS travel authorisation will be linked to your passport – but if you forgot to apply, you’ll get turned away.
As with the introduction of the EES rules, the ETIAS date has moved repeatedly. It was supposed to be in place for summer 2025, but that’s moved back to the final quarter of 2026 now. But be warned, that could all change suddenly.
One final thing to bear in mind. The EU estimates that 1.4 billion people from 59 currently visa-exempt countries will need to apply for this new travel authorisation. So apply as soon as you can.
- Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist
