EES border controls: we answer your questions
Including queries about e-gate usage visitors, spouses of French citizens and foreign residents and visa holders
The system launched on October 12, 2025
Stephen Barnes / 1000 Words / Shutterstock
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) of automated border checks for non-EU nationals started on October 12. Here we answer your key questions on the new system.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES): Key facts
- The Entry/Exit System is a border security system for non-EU nationals travelling for short stays to the Schengen Zone.
- It does not apply to holders of residence permits or long-stay visas.
- The rollout of the EES is to be gradual and could take up to six months from October 12, 2025 before all travellers and border points are fully included.
- Some EES checkpoints are in the UK: for coach passengers at Dover and Eurotunnel users at London St Pancras.
- Travellers from other UK airports and ports go through the system upon arrival in France or elsewhere in the Schengen Zone.
- About six months after EES is fully operational, the EU will introduce Etias, a separate online travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals.
How do new EU border changes affect you?
Connexion subscribers can read our help guide to the EES and Etias for free on the Subscriber Resources page here.
If you are not subscribed to the Connexion either click here to subscribe or click here to purchase the guide for €9.50.
The Connexion has received many questions about EES and answers them in two sections below.
General questions for people affected directly by EES without a French or EU residency card:
Non-EU nationality travellers are directed towards a new area to use pre-registration kiosks
Spouses have additional rights to remain in the EU
We look at rules if you have two countries’ passports or two from the same country
Visitors to the EU are required to answer questions about travel plans within the bloc
Queries can already be made by border guards, but digitalisation of border makes it more likely
Travel authorisation system Etias may pose more problems in this area
We also cover rules for cruises
Data provided at registration is retained for at least three years
App will allow non-EU visitors, whose entries and exits will be logged in new digital borders system, to input most - but not all - data before arrival
Questions for residency card holders, visa holders and EU citizens living in France
New digital border rules are to be phased in over time
The Entry/Exit System requires visitors to the Schengen Area to give their biometric information at the border
We also look at whether the rules are different for Brexit WA card holders
If a person enters France from outside the EU prior to the start of their French visa, they are logged under the EES
- We asked several other questions to the French Interior Ministry, including rules about where French residency card holders can use Parafe 'e-gates'. You can read the Ministry's answers in our August article here.
More useful articles about EES and ETIAS:
How to get a DCEM travel document for children travelling through EES
EU looks to increase ETIAS travel authorisation fee from €7 to €20
Timing for launch of EES app at French borders outlined
Do you have a question about the EES? Ask us via questions@connexionfrance.com
