Everything UK Fliers Need To Know About The New EES Rules

On April 10, 2026, the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational.

That means fliers outside of the EU will have to provide a different kind of data when going for short stays in Schengen countries.

Though the digital record stays valid for three years, getting people to sign up to the system for the first time all at once has led to chaos in some airports. The Guardian described “nightmare” queues and missed flights.

We’ve written before about the best advice from airlines like Jet2, Ryanair, TUI, and British Airways about how to plan your airport trips. 

But what can UK fliers expect regarding the data required, what happens during the EES process, where it applies to, who’s exempt, and how to plan ahead of travel?

Luckily, Adam Edinburgh, Head of Travel and New Products at Post Office, has shared his thoughts. 

What is the EES? 

It’s, “a new digital border control system for non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). It replaces manual passport stamping with electronic registration, improving border security and efficiency,” said Edinburgh.

Brits travelling to countries like Spain and Portugal this summer should expect to have their passports scanned and fingerprints taken if they haven’t gone through EES already. 

Which countries use EES checks on UK fliers? 

It applies to Schengen countries. These are in the EU, but they don’t include all countries in the bloc: the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus aren’t Schengen countries. 

Greece, though a Schengen country, has opted out of the biometric system for UK passengers for now.

• Austria,
• Belgium,
• Bulgaria,
• Croatia,
• Czechia,
• Denmark,
• Estonia,
• Finland,
• France,
• Germany,
• Greece (though they’ve waived biometric checks for UK passengers for now), 
• Hungary,
• Iceland,
• Italy,
• Latvia,
• Liechtenstein,
• Lithuania,
• Luxembourg,
• Malta,
• Netherlands,
• Norway,
• Poland,
• Portugal,
• Romania,
• Slovakia,
• Slovenia,
• Spain,
• Sweden, and
• Switzerland.

What happens during an EES check? 

“Travellers entering for the first time will undergo biometric registration at border kiosks or e-gates, this includes the system capturing a facial image, fingerprints (if visa-exempt), passport details, and entry/exit information,” said Edinburgh. 

“For subsequent visits, the process will be faster due to the data already being stored. It’s important to note that no pre-registration is required – registration happens at the border during your first entry.” 

The entire process is expected to take mere minutes. But because lots of other people will be doing it at the same time, at least in the beginning, the expert warns to expect queues and to arrive a little earlier than usual. 

Who is exempt from EES checks? 

You don’t have to go through EES checks if you’re an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen.

“Non-EU nationals with specific residence permits, and Monaco, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican nationals” are also exempt, said Edinburgh.

Additionally, “Ireland and Cyprus are not part of the Schengen area where the system applies, so UK nationals travelling there will continue to be checked and stamped manually.” 

And children under 12 will only have their facial image taken, not their fingerprints.

EES checklist 

Lastly, Edinburgh recommended going through a checklist before getting your first EES checks. These are:

1. Check your passport expiry date (must be valid for at least 3 months after your trip for EU countries), 
2. Know your entry airport’s EES setup (expect biometric checks),
3. Keep essential travel documents easily accessible, including passports, travel insurance, accommodation confirmation, and proof of onward or return travel. 

And as we mentioned before, airlines have already shared their advice for making the novel process run as smoothly as possible.