France鈥檚 busiest airports, Channel ports and cross-Channel train terminals are now operating the EU鈥檚 Entry/Exit System (EES), following its official launch on October 12.
The new technology marks the EU鈥檚 biggest change to passport control in decades, eventually aimed at replacing manual passport stamping with a digital record of each traveller鈥檚 movements in and out of the Schengen area (however manual stamping is also continuing during a six-month phase-in period).
Phased introduction to ease queues
France has adopted a phased rollout, meaning the system is not yet active for every passenger or at every site. The approach is designed to limit disruption as the new checks 鈥� which include biometric scans and digital registration 鈥� are introduced.
To help ease registration of relevant passengers, there are self-service kiosks and tablet devices handed out by helpers at large airports, ferry ports and Eurostar/Eurotunnel terminals. These allow travellers to pre-register their details before seeing a border guard.
Officials and travel bodies say the first days of operation have been relatively smooth, although longer queues have been reported at some Channel crossings during peak periods.
Industry welcomes gradual rollout
Johan Roos, InterferryInterferry
Ferry industry body Interferry and UK travel agents鈥� association Abta both welcomed France鈥檚 decision to stagger implementation.
Interferry鈥檚 regulatory affairs director Johan Roos said the earlier plan to activate EES everywhere on the same day would have been 鈥渕assively disruptive鈥�. A gradual approach, he said, allows each country to 鈥渁dapt to local conditions and avoid gridlock at peak times鈥�.
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer agreed that spreading implementation over six months 鈥済ives the system time to bed in while minimising impact on travellers鈥�. It also eases pressure on operators during the busy October half-term and Christmas travel periods, he said.
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Who needs to register?
EES applies to non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss citizens visiting the Schengen area for short stays 鈥� including Britons, Americans, Canadians and Australians 鈥� whether for tourism, business or second-home visits.
Foreign residents with French residency cards or long-stay visas are not registered in EES but must still use 鈥渁ll passports鈥� lanes, not EU lanes, and present their visa or residence card to border officials.
At some sites, only coach passengers were processed in the first phase. Car passengers at Dover and Eurotunnel are expected to follow from November, using kiosks or tablets near the border booths.
How EES works
Travellers provide:
Passport details (including number, nationality, and expiry date)
Facial image
Four right-hand fingerprints (left if right is not possible)
Answers to travel questions such as length and purpose of stay
Minors accompanied by adults do not have their fingerprints taken; unaccompanied minors complete the process with a border guard.
Once a traveller is registered, only a quick biometric validation is required on future trips. The system automatically logs entries and exits, replacing the need for passport stamps and ensuring compliance with the 90/180-day rule.
How pre-registration equipment is being used
A passenger uses a kioskGetlink
At major sites, self-service kiosks are used inside terminals. At others, helpers with tablets move between vehicles or queues to assist passengers with pre-registration.
Ports such as Caen, Cherbourg and Dieppe have chosen tablet-based systems, while Dover has installed dedicated areas where car and coach passengers can pull up to use kiosks before proceeding to border control.
Airports and Eurostar terminals rely primarily on fixed kiosks, which offer multilingual instructions and on-site assistance.
A mobile pre-registration app is still under development but not yet available for France-bound travel.
Which sites have pre-registration devices?
EES PRDs are being deployed at the following French-controlled border points:
Train/road terminals: Paris Gare du Nord (Eurostar), London St Pancras (Eurostar), Coquelles and Folkestone (Eurotunnel), Dover
Expected border impacts
The French airports body UAF said the first days of EES operation caused slightly longer waiting times, though the effect should lessen once more passengers have completed their first registration.
France鈥檚 Interior Ministry has promised an additional 1,000 police officers to reinforce border teams. The Douanes (customs) also reported having extra staff available following Brexit.
Eurotunnel operator Getlink said its terminals can now process up to 550 vehicles per hour, or about 1,500 passengers, through the new EES lanes. The company used AI modelling and traffic simulations to optimise the number of kiosks and avoid motorway congestion.
What travellers should expect
Allow extra time for crossings, especially the first since October 12.
Follow staff instructions on when and where to use kiosks or tablets.
Bring necessary documents, including proof of residence if applicable.
Expect two biometric scans only once 鈥� future trips will be faster.
The process at a kiosk
Click on welcome screen and follow instructions
Reply to travel questions (these may be turned off at busy times) such as purpose of stay (tourism, business, study鈥�) and confirmation that you have sufficient financial means for your trip and return home
Place passport, photo page open, on a reader and hold it down until you receive notification that the data was collected
Take off glasses, scarves, hats, masks. Stand in front of the camera and, guided by the LED lights, ensure an image is taken successfully.
Place the four fingers of the right hand on the reader (left hand, if right is impossible)
The screen will then indicate where to go to cross the border
The process with a tablet
A helper holding a tablet will assist you and may ask you to respond to the travel questions.
Hand them your passport, which they will scan.
Get ready for a photo, which will be taken by the helper using the tablet
Press your right-hand fingers on to the reader as indicated
by the helper (left hand, if it is necessary).
Looking ahead: Etias next year
Interferry鈥檚 Mr Roos noted that from mid-2026, travellers will also face the launch of Etias, the EU鈥檚 鈧�20 online pre-authorisation system, valid for three years.
鈥淕overnments are increasing digital control over passenger movements very rapidly,鈥� he said. 鈥淚mplementing both EES and Etias within a short period is a major operational challenge for transport operators.鈥�
