Ahead of the EES roll-out on 12th October 2025, The Foreign Office (FDCO) has issued updated advice for UK Passport Holders travelling throughout the Schengen Area.
Countries within the Schengen Area include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
New advice highlighted on the FDCO’s website indicates, “If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.”
Passengers will be required to provide fingerprints and have a photo taken at dedicated booths upon your first visit to the Schengen Area.
As the new system is introduced across the Schengen Area, travellers are being advised that the EES may take passengers a few extra minutes to complete, and to be prepared to wait during busy travel periods.
The new EES system is not applicable when travelling to the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus, meaning UK passport holders will not be required to complete biometric checks upon arrival.
