The EU’s Entry / Exit System (EES) - welcome to your guide

New digital border controls – known as the European Entry/Exit System (EES) –  started for visitors to the Schengen area on October 12, 2025 and will be fully operational from April 10, 2026.

The changes impact many people travelling to France from non-EU countries. 

EES involves the collection of travellers’ fingerprints, facial images and basic travel information.

It is intended, after a six-month phase-in period, to remove passport stamping for non-EU/non-EEA/nonSwiss visitors to the area and to keep a closer check on who is entering. 

It will also ensure that visitors respect, if relevant, the rule of not staying more than 90 days in any 180-day period. 

Airports, ports and international railway stations have installed infrastructure, including pre-registration kiosks, in a bid to reduce what travellers must provide in person to border guards on first entry. 

This includes Dover, Folkestone and St Pancras in the UK where French border checks take place on UK soil. 

The EU has been planning the changes since 2013 but the system suffered a series of postponements. It has been agreed that countries may ‘phase in’ the scheme over six months. It must then be fully in place. 

EES is set to be followed by a second measure called Etias in the last quarter of 2026. This will concern largely the same travellers and will involve an online application (plus fee) to be completed before travel for preapproval to visit the Schengen area. This is similar to the US’s Esta or UK’s new Eta. 

Once obtained the Etias will be valid for three years. EES and Etias concern people who are nationals of countries that do not benefit from EU free movement rights, and who do not live in the EU. 

Britons, Americans and other non EU people who live in France (or other Schengen countries) and hold a valid residency card or visa are not affected but should be aware of the changes and potential impact at travel hubs. 

Families with under-18s may have to complete new travel formalities. UK ministers and MPs have raised concerns about potential long queues. 

However, the 'phased start' has helped to minimise this. 

This means that EES does not have to be operational immediately at all relevant border points and/or not all relevant travellers will have to be entered in the system from day one. Over six months, however, usage of the checks should increase. 

Use the contents list to access topics of interest. Alternatively, use the ‘next’ and ‘previous’ options at the bottom of each page to read the guide in sequence. If you have questions about EES or ETIAS, please email questions@connexionfrance.com. and we will do our best to address them in future updates. We welcome your feedback.