UK Tourists Urged to Prepare for EES Fingerprint Checks at EU Borders

Charlie Immigration updates News & Events 31 May 2025 | Updated On June 2, 2025 | 0

British holidaymakers heading to the EU will soon face more time-consuming border checks, as new rules will require fingerprint scans and facial photographs every time they enter the Schengen Area.

Due to delays in the EU’s digital biometric systems, travellers will initially need to exit their cars or coaches at border control to complete these checks in person. This change is part of the European Union’s long-planned Entry/Exit System (EES), which has been delayed for years but is now set to be rolled out in November 2025.

What this means for travellers:

Every UK traveller will be required to stop at the border for fingerprinting and facial scans—even if they’ve visited before.
The checks will be carried out each time a person enters the EU, as the technology to automate repeat verifications is not yet ready.
Those travelling by car through key ports, such as Dover, will need to exit their vehicle for individual processing.
Families or groups may face longer waiting times, particularly during peak holiday periods.

Doug Bannister, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover, has warned that although it will be “business as usual” this summer, a “big change” is coming later in the year. He added that travellers should expect about six minutes of additional processing per car, though some experts suggest the delays could be longer during high-traffic periods.

The delays in deploying a mobile app which was designed to allow border officers to scan fingerprints from within the vehicle, mean there is no workaround in place yet. Until the technology is ready, passengers will have to disembark every time they cross into the EU.

To ease anticipated disruption, the Port of Dover is undergoing major infrastructure upgrades. These include reclaiming 13 hectares of land and implementing a virtual queuing system to manage the flow of people exiting vehicles for checks.

The UK and French governments are jointly supporting these efforts.

The EES will eventually replace passport stamping with digital records, tracking how long non-EU citizens stay in the Schengen Area. But until the system is fully operational and streamlined, travellers should prepare for slower border crossings and possible delays, especially during holidays and busy weekends.

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Charlie

Travel and Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager at IaM (Immigration and Migration)

Charlie is IaM’s resident Travel & Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager. They craft clear, engaging guides that demystify complex visa and migration rules - and then personally supports each client through every step of their journey.

Over the past 6+ years, with IaM, and working in the travel and immigration sector, Charlie has authored 200+ in-depth guides on Schengen, UK visas & other destinations they have relocated 1,000+ families safely through the system. A Clockwork Practitioner, Charlie also works hard to streamline operations and adheres to the mantra "Task Clients Well".

When they’re not translating policy into plain English, you’ll find them scouting new destinations, collecting local stories, and mastering a new language to better serve our global community.