EU Entry/Exit System Delays: What Travellers Should Know About the Upcoming Schengen Border Checks

The European Union's post-Brexit Entry/Exit System (EES) has become one of the most postponed projects in recent travel history. First slated for 2022, it was pushed to May 2023, then to the end of that year, and more recently was expected in the autumn of 2024 — with reports suggesting a start as early as 10 November, possibly slipping a week to 17 November. At the time, the European Commission had not confirmed an official date, insisting only that the system would enter operation in autumn 2024.

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What the EES actually is

The EES is an automated registration system for UK and other non-EU travellers who do not need a visa to enter the bloc. Rather than having a passport stamped by hand, travellers will scan their travel document at a self-service kiosk each time they cross an external EU border. The system records the traveller's name, biometric data and the date and place of entry and exit, with facial scans and fingerprints retained for three years after each trip.

It applies when entering all EU member states except Cyprus and Ireland, plus the four non-EU Schengen countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It does not apply to legal residents or to those holding long-stay visas. The underlying purpose is to strengthen border security and to identify travellers who overstay the 90 days within any 180-day period permitted for short stays.

Why it kept slipping — and how ETIAS fits in

Officials attributed the delays largely to challenges with contractors meeting deadlines, as automated barriers and kiosks have to be installed across land, sea and air borders. A European Commission spokesperson summarised the roadmap at the time: the Entry/Exit System was expected to enter operation in autumn 2024, with ETIAS following in spring 2025. There was also discussion of a possible "relief valve" allowing busy hubs to temporarily forego biometric registration at peak times, though this was not confirmed.

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The EES is closely connected to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), the pre-travel authorisation that visa-exempt non-EU citizens will need before visiting the Schengen area for short stays. Travellers will apply online for a fee of €7, and once approved the authorisation is linked to the passport and valid for three years. Industry bodies — including airports council ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe, the European Regions Airline Association and IATA — have repeatedly called for greater automation, sufficient staffing and a clear public information campaign so the new checks do not cause disruption. To see how the pieces fit together, read our ETIAS overview.