Fingerprint checks will soon be implemented throughout EU airports and UK border crossings. It’s important to know what to expect so you can be ready for the new system.
Here is a breakdown of when you can expect fingerprint checks to be introduced for EU travel.
Coming up in this guide
- Airports
- Trains
- Cars and coaches
- Eurotunnel Terminal at Folkestone
- Dover Port Ferries
What Is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
Fingerprint checks will be a part of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) which is soon to be introduced at airports and border crossings in the UK.
This automated IT system will register travellers from non-EU countries – that includes the UK – each time they cross a border into or out of the EU.
Travellers will have to scan their passports at an automated self-service kiosk before they cross the border. This will replace the current manual stamping of passports for visitors to the Schengen area who are not nationals of EU or Schengen countries.
The system will register:
- the person’s name
- type of travel document
- biometric data (i.e. fingerprints and captured facial images)
- the date and place of entry and exit
What is the Schengen area?
The Schengen area is a region of Europe that allows free movement between member countries without border controls. This currently includes 29 European countries, most of whom are EU member states, though Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are a part of Schengen too.
The fact that the United Kingdom is neither an EU country, nor in the Schengen area, is the reason why EES will impact our travel into and out of these areas.
When will the new Exit/Entry System be introduced?
The Exit/Entry System was supposed to be enforced from 2022, but it’s suffered several setbacks.
It’s now set to launch in 2025, and EU member states will get six months to introduce the scheme.
As well as at airports, the new Entry/Exit System will come into effect at the major Channel crossing points, including Dover’s Ferry Port, Eurostar’s London St Pancras and Eurotunnel’s Folkestone site.
When will EU airports and border crossings have the new Exit/Entry System?
The new Exit/Entry System is now scheduled to launch in 2025 for all EU countries, except Cyprus and Ireland where they’ll still stamp passports manually. It will also be introduced in the four non-EU Schengen countries – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The 2025 target is the latest deadline, and it’s not clear exactly when in 2025 the scheme will launch.
Will I need to be fingerprinted for domestic travel in the UK?
If you are travelling between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you will not be entering the EU and as such will not have to provide biometric data and fingerprints.
How Will The New Entry/Exit System (EES) be Implemented?
The new Exit/Entry system (EES) will be implemented in slightly different ways across UK border crossings and airports.
Typically, EES checks will be done when you enter the Schengen area, not when you leave non-EU countries.
So, if you’re flying from London Heathrow to Nice, you’ll only go through the digital border checks at Nice airport, not in the UK.
Airports
At airports the process will involve several steps.
- Upon arrival at an EU airport, travellers will go through electronic gates, or ‘e-gates’
- At the e-gates, travellers will provide their biometric data and have their photo taken under the supervision of border guards
The entire process is expected to take between 90 seconds to two minutes per person. Once biometric data is registered, it will be valid for three years, but a new passport will require new biometric data.
Trains
London St Pancras
Implementing EES at London St Pancras is going to shake things up for Eurostar passengers. The number of border control points will double, and 49 kiosks will be spread around the station to handle the biometric registration process.
- Passengers will use these kiosks to scan their documents, provide their biometric data and take facial photographs under the supervision of border officials
The process is expected to take between 90 seconds to two minutes per person, similar to the airport procedure.
Cars and coaches
Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone
Eurotunnel Terminal in Folkestone will install 106 kiosks and 53 parking zones ready to handle the vehicle processing.
- When travellers arrive at the Eurotunnel Terminal in Folkestone, they will drive straight to this newly designated EES check-in area
- Once it is their turn, passengers will exit their car and approach the EES kiosk to record their personal data and provide biometric details
- After completing the EES process, travellers head to UK border control for standard checks, where officials verify passports and ensure all UK entry requirements are met
- Next, travellers proceed to French border control, where French officials do the final checks before allowing vehicles to board the Eurotunnel train
- Upon arrival in Calais, vehicles disembark and continue their journey in France without any additional checks, thanks to the pre-clearance done at Folkestone
The EES check-in process at Folkestone is expected to add about six minutes per vehicle to the processing times.
Dover port ferries
Coaches
- Coaches will be directed to the Western Docks, away from the main check-in areas
- New coach halls with kiosks will be built to register passenger details
- Passengers will exit the coach and go through the border checks at the Western Docks, then re-board the coach
- The coach will then proceed directly to the ferry terminal without further checks
Cars and other vehicles
- Initially, cars will use the current lanes upon arrival at the port
- Agents with tablets will collect biometric details from passengers
The process time will increase from 45-90 seconds to a couple of minutes or more per person for EES registration.
Work is already underway to develop an old cargo dock into a new area for processing and holding vehicles. However until this is finished, space at the port is limited and there will likely be additional delays. The local council is trying to avoid excessive disruption by planning temporary holding areas where vehicles can wait.
Will The New Exit/Entry System Create Delays?
When the system is fully implemented and operating as intended, it is not expected to add a lot of time onto each person’s passport processing time – the expectation ranges from 30-60 seconds, up to a few extra minutes. However, when there are lots of people in the queue, this will add up. And of course, we’ll have to wait until the EES comes in to see the reality.
For example, at Dover’s ferry port, Folkestone and London St Pancras, there are dual border controls where French officers check and stamp passports as people leave the UK. Adding the new EES kiosks to this process could slow things down. What usually takes 45 to 90 seconds could stretch to a couple of minutes or more per person when registering for EES.
And in the meantime, whilst the processes, technology and infrastructure are still being rolled out, it’s hard to know exactly what sort of delays will occur. There are plans to eventually introduce an app that will let you start the EES registration process from home, which will help ease wait times.
What happens if I don't want to give my fingerprints?
The collection of your biometric data and fingerprints is mandatory. If you refuse, you’ll be denied entry.
Are there any other border control changes to know about?
Yes. Once the EES is up and running, the EU plans to roll out a new visa-waiver system for non-EU citizens (including travellers from the UK) visiting the EU and Schengen area.
The new visa-waiver system will be called the ‘European Travel Information and Authorisation System’. It’s known as ‘ETIAS’ for short. It is planned to be introduced six months after the EES is launched. You can find out more information and stay updated here.
Keep Up to Date With the New Fingerprint Checks and Entry/Exit System
As EU airports and UK border crossings increasingly adopt the new entry/exit system in the run up to the deadline, it’s important to stay informed.
Cheap Holiday Expert will keep you up-to-date with any new developments, ensuring you have the latest information about the new Entry/Exit System and fingerprint checks.
