Welcome to our help guide to the EU’s new border rules

New digital border controls – known as the European Entry-Exit System (EES) – for visitors to the Schengen area began on October 12, 2025. 

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, it is hoped that the phased start will help to minimise this. 

This means that EES will 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. 

The key in depth topics we cover

- How the new border controls work 

- Who needs to register in EES 

- Changes for visitors 

- Questions for travellers at EU borders 

- Changes for second-home owners 

- Changes for residents in France Ports, airports and stations 

- EU phone app for speeding up process 

- What is Etias and does it affect? 

- How to use kiosks and tablets 

- Questions and answers 

- Glossary and ist of countries affected

If you have further questions about EES or Etias, please email questions@connexionfrance.com. We will answer a selection in a future update. We welcome your feedback. The Connexion team