How the EU's New Entry/Exit System Will Work: Your Questions Answered

The EU's post-Brexit Entry/Exit System (EES) has been one of the most delayed travel projects of recent years. Originally planned for 2022, it was rescheduled to May 2023, then pushed to the end of that year, before being expected in the autumn. Many travellers still say they have no idea how it will work in practice — so here is a clear walkthrough of the essentials.

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What the EES is and who it applies to

Put simply, the EES is an electronic system that replaces the physical stamping of passports at passport control. It will operate in all EU member states except Cyprus and Ireland — where passports continue to be stamped by hand — plus the four non-EU Schengen countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Every entry to and exit from the participating countries is recorded.

When the system goes live, on arrival you will present your passport as usual, while also having a photo of your face taken and your fingerprints scanned electronically. Citizens of the EU or Schengen countries are not affected. Instead, the EES applies to people travelling from a 'third country' — those who are not EU or Schengen citizens, which includes most travellers from the UK — for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. British passport holders who hold EU residency are exempt.

Where the checks happen

In the vast majority of cases, EES checks take place in Europe when you arrive at your destination airport or port. There is an important exception: if you travel via the Port of Dover or by international train from the UK, the checks happen on departure, while you go through passport control on the UK side. That is because there is a dual British–French border at those locations, so you will not need to repeat the checks on arrival.

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How the EES connects to ETIAS

The EES works alongside the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a separate scheme that requires a pre-travel authorisation for around 30 European countries (Ireland is exempt as part of the Common Travel Area). It is similar in concept to the United States' ESTA and the UK's ETA. ETIAS will cost €7 for most travellers but will be free for those under 18 and aged 70 and over, and each authorisation lasts three years and covers multiple trips.

A few caveats are worth remembering: if your passport expires during the validity period, you will need a new ETIAS, and the authorisation will not be valid if the passport expires during your stay. Because the system is not yet live, no official website is taking applications, and any site claiming to offer an ETIAS today should be treated with caution. When the scheme does launch, you can begin your ETIAS application through the official process.