23/07/2025
The EU Entry-Exit System EES, will start to be rolled out from October 12th this year & implemented over a 6 month period which coincides with the next Winter ski season.
The phased rollout of the new biometric border rules will last until April the 9th 2026 before the scheme is fully operational at all EU borders from April the 10th.
Until the end of the transition period member states will continue to manually stamp travel documents.
All UK skiers and snowboarders heading to mainland Europe next season will be affected.
EES will be an automated IT system for registering travellers from non EU countries each time they cross a border into or out of the EU.
The new system will require all non EU citizens to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics when crossing the border into the EU for the first time. This data will be held on file for three years.
Children under the age of 12 will not have their fingerprints taken.
The aim of EES is to replace manual passport stamping and improve border security and efficiency.
