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The European Union’s long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) will finally begin rolling out on 12 October 2025. The new digital border system will be introduced gradually at the Port of Dover, Eurostar, and Eurotunnel over a six-month phased period to reduce disruption.
Authorities have confirmed that not all passengers will be immediately subject to the new checks, easing fears of severe delays at the UK–EU border.
What is the EES?
The EES is a digital registration system for non-EU travellers, including those from the UK, US, and other third countries.
Travellers will be required to scan passports or travel documents at self-service kiosks when crossing EU external borders. During the first registration, biometric data including facial scans and fingerprints will be stored in the EES database for three years.
On future trips, passengers will only need to provide a fingerprint or facial scan, which will be matched against stored records.
EU citizens, residents, and holders of long-stay visas will remain exempt from EES checks.
When Will Checks Take Effect?
The UK government has provided £3.5 million (€4.1 million) each to Eurostar, Eurotunnel, and the Port of Dover for installing EES kiosks.
• Port of Dover: EES will initially apply only to coach passengers from 12 October. Car passengers will follow from 1 November.
• Eurotunnel: Coaches and freight traffic will begin using kiosks on 12 October, with car passengers joining later. A total of 224 kiosks have been installed at Folkestone and Calais.
• Eurostar: The London St Pancras terminal faces space limitations, so kiosks will be installed in various areas across the station.
Authorities have stressed that processing may be suspended temporarily if queues become unmanageable.
How Will It Work at the Border?
• At Dover, coach passengers will alight at a new Western Docks processing zone to complete EES registration before re-boarding sealed vehicles.
• At Eurotunnel, vehicles will check in at kiosks, with EU nationals directed past the biometric registration area.
• At Eurostar, passengers can now board trains 30 minutes before departure to reduce crowding. Extra staff and manual booths will also be deployed.
According to Eurostar, kiosk registration is expected to take around 90 seconds per passenger.
What This Means for Travellers
The phased rollout aims to prevent chaos during the introduction of a system that has already faced years of delays. Passengers should, however, prepare for longer processing times in the early stages as staff and travellers adapt to the new rules.
Non-EU travellers planning trips from the UK into the Schengen Area this autumn should allow extra time when crossing borders.
Source: The Local Europe
September 6, 2025
