Entry/Exit System: Key Questions on Biometrics, Delays and Border Checks

Who is covered and what travellers must provide

The article explained that EES applies to people entering or leaving the 29-country Schengen area, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Travellers must register biometric data, with fingerprints and a photograph, while children also need to register but under-12s are exempt from fingerprinting. The checks are free of charge, but they add a new procedural step for non-EU travellers.

The rollout is phased, and disruption is part of the picture

A practical focus of the article was timing. From 12 October 2025, each participating state needed only one border point using EES at first, with at least half of border points expected to be operating the system by January and full activation for all eligible arrivals by 10 April 2026. The article also pointed to likely disruption, with official advice warning of longer waits and industry voices advising extra time for crossings into southern Europe.

Photo by Download a pic Donate a buck! ^ on Pexels

UK departure points are preparing, and ETIAS comes later

The article highlighted preparations at St Pancras, the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel's Folkestone terminal, where kiosks were installed to complete part of the process before travellers met a border officer. It said registrations would last three years, making later crossings quicker than first-time registration. It also noted that ETIAS was expected later, as a separate entry requirement for Schengen visitors, following after the EES rollout rather than replacing it.