The European Union’s long-delayed fingerprint and facial recognition entry system, known as the Entry/Exit System (EES), is finally being rolled out across airports, ports, and railway stations. While operators had feared travel chaos, early trials suggest the impact may be mixed – with efficiency gains for some travellers but longer waits for others.
How the system works
The EES will replace the manual stamping of passports for non-EU citizens entering or leaving the Schengen area. Travellers will now need to provide biometric data – fingerprints and facial scans – at designated checkpoints. The system is designed to record movements more accurately, prevent overstays, and strengthen border security.
Concerns from operators
Airlines, ferry companies, and rail operators had raised alarm over potential bottlenecks. The concern was that fingerprinting and photographing millions of travellers, particularly at peak holiday times, would overwhelm infrastructure. UK-EU travel routes, where large numbers of passengers move through tight windows, were seen as especially vulnerable.
Early experiences
A trial run by The Guardian at a French border checkpoint showed a mixed picture. For some passengers, registration took only a few minutes. Others faced delays as fingerprint machines required multiple attempts, or when staff needed to intervene. At busy hubs such as the Port of Dover or Paris Gare du Nord, even small delays could accumulate into significant queues.
Who will be affected
The system applies to all non-EU travellers, including Britons post-Brexit. First-time users will need to register their details, while repeat travellers should experience quicker processing once their biometrics are on file. EU citizens will continue to use e-gates with their ID cards or passports and will not be required to provide fingerprints.
Balancing security and flow
The European Commission insists that the EES will enhance security and streamline border checks in the long term. However, transport operators warn that the first months may prove difficult. With millions expected to register in the initial phase, the risk of congestion remains real, particularly at land and sea crossings where infrastructure is limited.
Looking ahead
Officials say the system should eventually reduce fraud and speed up regular crossings. Yet with the peak winter travel season approaching, all eyes will be on how smoothly the rollout functions under real-world conditions. If bottlenecks materialise, pressure may mount on Brussels to adjust procedures or expand resources quickly.
REFH – Newshub UK, 27 September 2025
