If Europe is on your itinerary for business this year, there’s a significant change coming that you need to be aware of.
The EU is set to introduce the Entry/Exit System (EES), a new digital border control system aimed at tightening security across the Schengen zone, from this November.
This update could impact your travel plans, so here’s what business travellers need to know.
What is EES and who does it impact?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is designed to enhance the monitoring of travellers entering and leaving the Schengen Area, which includes most EU countries, excluding Cyprus and Ireland, and non-EU members like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
If you’re a non-EU citizen, including British nationals, this new system will apply to you. A ‘short-stay’ trip to countries operating under the EES is defined as one lasting shorter than 90 days in any 180-day period.
How it works
The process is straightforward: on your first trip to the Schengen Area after the EES launches, you’ll be required to register your biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph) at the border. This registration will only take a few minutes. After that, for the next three years, all you’ll need to do is verify your fingerprint or photo on subsequent entries into the EU.
Where available, travellers with biometric passports may be able to register some data in advance using a self-service kiosk or a mobile app issued by the country of arrival or departure. A border guard will then verify the information.
What business travellers should expect
For those travelling from the UK, EES registration will take place when you first enter the Schengen zone. Whether you’re flying, taking the Eurotunnel, or boarding a ferry, the process will occur at the border. Specifically, if you’re departing from ports such as Dover, Eurotunnel, or St Pancras, where French immigration conducts checks pre-departure, the EES will be carried out before you leave the UK.
This may lead to longer wait times, especially at busy travel hubs, so plan to arrive earlier than usual to avoid unnecessary delays. Once you’ve registered, the process for subsequent trips over the next three years will be streamlined, requiring only a quick fingerprint or photo scan at the border.
Why the EU is introducing EES
The new system is part of the EU’s broader goal to enhance border security and manage migration more effectively. Replacing the outdated passport-stamping system, EES will allow for quicker, automated border control, ensuring smoother transitions while preventing overstays.
Looking further ahead, in 2025, the EU will also roll out the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Similar to the US ESTA, ETIAS will require non-EU travellers to apply for travel authorisation online before their trip. The process involves filling out a brief form, paying a €7 fee, and receiving approval to travel.
How EES could affect your business trip
When EES is introduced, the registration process should only take a few minutes per traveller. However, expect longer queues at airports, ferry terminals, and train stations as both travellers and border authorities adapt to the new system.
Crucially, always check with your carrier ahead of time for updates on potential delays or changes to your journey schedule.
Where can you learn more?
For comprehensive details on the EES and how it will affect your business travel, visit the EU’s official Travel Europe website at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/index_en.
