Changes for visitors to France

Visitors to France or other Schengen countries are affected by EES procedures if they are of a non-EU/non-EEA/non Swiss nationality – ie. they do not benefit from EU free movement – and they are entering or exiting the Schengen area for a short stay of no more than three months.

Travellers should bear in mind that EES means the border control process takes longer, especially on their first entry or exit after the system came into operation.

It is difficult anticipate how much longer, as this varies depending on the means of travel and how busy the port/airport/rail station is, and how prepared and equipped it is. However, as a rule of thumb, people must allow more time than before and be prepared for delays.

Passengers can expect a passport scan and photo to be taken and a fingerprint scan (children under 12 do not have to provide fingerprints). Having to answer some short questions about travel is also possible, though not systematic.

In theory such questions were already standard under Schengen area rules but this was not commonly applied in France previously. Where pre-registration kiosks exist (eg. larger airports, Eurotunnel and Eurostar), inputting answers to questions is built into these, but this feature can be turned off by border guards to speed the process off.

Questions are also included in the standard model of the EU’s Travel to Europe app that was developed to help with pre-registration (note that this is not yet available for use in France.

People affected by EES may have to pass in front of a border official (police aux frontières or Douanes) for final checks and a possible fingerprint scan.

At sites where there are Parafe passport e-gates, nationals of many countries (US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand) may be permitted to use these to bypass going in front of a border guard’s desk.

Please note that at least until September 2026 you may find that at busy times you are not asked for a facial image and fingerprint scan, as the EES regulations provide for suspension of these if deemed necessary. 

As of May, several busy border points had yet to implement these at all, including the Port of Dover and the Folkestone Eurotunnel terminal, for car passengers, and at St Pancras station for Eurostar.