UK Travellers Face Fingerprint Scans at Every EU Entry — Delays in EES App Deployment Raise Concerns

New Entry Rules Tighten for UK Citizens Entering the EU

Starting November 2025, British travellers crossing into the Schengen Area will be required to provide fingerprints and facial images every time they enter. This major change is due to delays in launching the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which would have allowed pre-registration via a mobile app.

Until the app is operational, UK nationals entering by car or bus — particularly through the busy Port of Dover — will need to exit their vehicles for manual biometric capture.

“We’ve been told that the app won’t be ready before November,”
said Doug Bannister, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover (The Guardian).

To manage this, 13 hectares of land at the port have been reclaimed for passenger processing.

What Is the EES and Why It Matters

The EES is designed to replace manual passport stamps with an automated system that records biometric data and travel history. Initially, all travellers will have their biometrics collected manually, with each subsequent entry still requiring verification.

“Even for second, third, or fourth trips, passengers must undergo manual biometric verification,”
Bannister added.

Long Queues and Manual Checks Likely Through Summer 2025

UK travellers won’t have access to automated e-gates until EES is fully operational. Until at least October 2025, they will face manual passport stamping and long wait times at borders, especially during summer holidays.

A UK-EU agreement confirms these temporary arrangements will remain until full digital rollout is achieved — sparking concern over logistics and tourism impact during peak travel seasons.