Brace yourselves, travellers! Europe is ditching the old passport stamp for a slick digital system. On 12 October 2025, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) goes live, changing Howhow non-EU nationals breeze through the Schengen Area’s 29 countries.
Estonia and Luxembourg Take the Lead
Only two nations are kicking off the new system first – Estonia and Luxembourg. Estonia leads the pack, switching all Borderborder points, including bustling Tallinn Airport, to EES from day one.
“Estonia is ahead of the pack, as it was with visa abolition for most Europeans in the early 1990s,” said Neil Taylor, author of the Bradt guide to Estonia. “Given that Tallinn airport prides itself on speedy but secure Borderborder controls, Brits should still find it one of the easiest airports both arriving and departing.”
Luxembourg will roll out EES at Luxembourg Airport the same day, following a €1 million investment in high-tech kiosks and IT upgrades.
What’s the EES All About?
Forget outdated passport stamps. EES requires non-EU visitors to submit biometric data – fingerprints and a photo – upon first entry into Schengen countries.
- Register your biometrics at kiosks or booths on arrival.
- No pre-registration or fees needed; it’s free and automatic.
- Data stored securely for three years, speeding up future border checks.
Warning: initial queues might be longer as travellers get used to the system. Pack your patience!
When Are the Rest Jumping On Board?
The other 27 Schengen countries will follow in waves, alongside non-EU members Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
Countries joining EES:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
For UK tourists, this means biometric checks on entry to the Schengen zone are now part of the game. Get ready for a smarter, quicker, and Moremore secure Europe trip.
Originally published on UKNIP