Dover's port in the UK anticipates the deployment of the Electronic Entry System (EES) by November 2025.
The European Entry Exit System (EES), a digital system designed to modernise border management and enhance security, is set to start in October 2025. The implementation will follow a progressive phased approach over a six-month transition period across the Schengen Area countries.
The phased roll-out is structured as follows: by 30 days from launch, member states must record 10% of border crossings entering the Schengen area. By 90 days, the system should cover 35% of border crossings, with biometric data (fingerprints and facial images) fully integrated. By 180 days, the system must achieve 100% registration and biometric integration for all third-country nationals entering and leaving the Schengen Area.
Countries have the option to skip this gradual implementation and proceed directly to full operation. The phased approach helps avoid overwhelming border control infrastructure. The EES will apply EU-wide at external borders, including airports, seaports, and land border crossings of all Schengen countries.
The EES will replace manual passport stamping for third-country nationals visiting Schengen countries, with full mandatory use expected by April 2026. The system will not affect travel between two EU or Schengen zone countries.
The initial planned implementation of the EES was in 2022, but it has been delayed multiple times. The November 2024 start date was postponed due to delays in setting up the required technology. The Port of Dover, in particular, has been problematic due to long queues at peak travel times since Brexit and a cramped site that makes it difficult to put in new infrastructure. The UK-France border has been identified as a particular worry in relation to the EES due to a combination of high passenger numbers and juxtaposed border checks.
The EES is expected to start at some point in 2025, according to the European Commission. Doug Bannister, the boss of the UK Port of Dover, expects the EES to start in November 2025. However, no exact date for the start of the EES has been announced since its postponement in November 2024.
The EES will be followed by the EU's ETIAS system, a visa waiver for tourists similar to the US's ESTA visa and the UK's new ETA. The EES has been delayed repeatedly due to fears of chaos at the border, with the UK-France border being a particular concern.
Sources: [1] European Commission. (n.d.). European Entry/Exit System (EES). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/legal-migration/entry-exit-system_en [2] European Commission. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions on the European Entry/Exit System (EES). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/legal-migration/entry-exit-system_en/faq_en [3] European Commission. (n.d.). European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/legal-migration/european-travel-information-and-authorisation-system_en
The European Entry Exit System (EES) is expected to commence in October 2025, marking a shift in the legal landscape of travel within the Schengen Area. As the system gradually rolls out, it will integrate technology to modernize border management and enhance security, ultimately aiming for 100% registration and biometric integration of third-country nationals by 180 days from launch.
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