New EU Travel Rules - Your EES & ETIAS Questions Answered

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new digital border system for people travelling to the EU. It will replace the need for travellers to have their passports manually stamped at the EU border.

The new system requires travellers, including children, to register their biometric details at the EU border. It uses electronic kiosks - similar to self-service passport machines - to scan passengers' faces or fingerprints. 

• Groups travelling to Europe by air will encounter EES checks on arrival at their destination airport.
• School groups crossing the Channel by ferry or rail will have their EES checks on departure at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Eurostar terminals. 

EES applies to British and non-EU nationals visiting EU and Schengen countries (including Iceland and Switzerland but not Cyprus and Ireland).

The system is not yet operational. The new checks are expected to be phased in gradually across the EU from October 2025.

The EES will not impact school trips in the current (2024/25) school year.

The new system is due to become operational in October 2025. After this date, each country has six months to introduce the new system across all its external border crossing points to make sure the system can cope.

Countries can temporarily suspend EES registration and revert to manual stamping of passports to prevent disruption or delays at the border,  

The EES is part of a broader range of border controls being introduced by the EU. See our EU travel checklist for information about other incoming requirements such as ETIAS. 

EES is a new digital border system that will change requirements for British nationals travelling to the Schengen area. This encompasses trips to all EU countries except from Ireland and Cyprus. Non-EU states, such as Iceland and Switzerland, are also part of the Schengen area. 

Children and school groups are not exempt from the EES border process.

Also see the visa requirements for any students on your school trip who are not British nationals.

No, children are not exempt from the EES border checks. However, children under 12 years only need to have their picture registered and will not need to provide a fingerprint.

All the passengers in your group will be required to submit their fingerprints or have their photo taken at the border. The process will take a few minutes per person and so expect longer queue times while your group is registered for the first time. We will factor this into your itinerary timings.

School groups crossing into France via the Channel will register their biometric data before boarding the train or ferry as follows:

• Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal – your group will need to disembark the coach to register their biometrics at one of 100 new kiosks before boarding Le Shuttle.  
• Port of Dover - there are 24 kiosks for the exclusive use of coach passengers at Dover. All coach passengers will need to get off the coach and register their biometrics before boarding the ferry.
• 50 kiosks have been installed at St Pancras International for people to register their biometrics before boarding the train. Eurostar expects registration to be quick and easy.

For school trips travelling by air, we will allow extra time for EES registration to be completed before you clear arrivals and resume your onward journey.

You do not need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country.  

We are in regular contact with the ferry operators, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle and Eurostar about their EES preparations.

There are 100 EES kiosks for passengers passing through the Eurotunnel Terminal and 24 booths for the exclusive use of coach groups at the Port of Dover (there is a separate system in place for car passengers at Dover Port).

The Port of Dover chief executive, Doug Bannister, annouced that the rather than introducing the system all at once, the new checks are expected to be phased in over six months to make sure the system can cope. 

To prevent disruption and delays at the border, countries can also temporarily suspend EES registration, reverting to manual stamping of passports.

Once fully operational, groups travelling through the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel Terminal at Folkestone should expect increased wait times while passengers pass through the EES kiosks. We will make an allowance in your itinerary for your group to register before boarding the ferry or Le Shuttle.

The ETIAS is not yet operational.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is an online visa waiver scheme for UK citizens, similar to ESTA in the USA. Once in place, all non-EU passport holders, including children, will need to apply online for permission to visit the EU and Schengen countries (including Iceland and Switzerland). ETIAS is not required for school trips to Ireland as the UK currently maintains a Common Travel Area with Ireland.

The ETIAS travel permit is expected to cost €7 for adults and should be renewed every three years.

When operational, everyone in your group will need a digital ETIAS permit to visit the EU or Iceland on a school trip. 

The cost of the ETIAS will be €7 for adults and free for under-18s and will be valid for three years. 

Though children are exempt from the fee, they will still need a digital ETIAS permit to travel to the EU.

ETIAS will not impact school trips until after the 2025/26 academic year.

The new online travel authorisation system is not expected to come into force until the last quarter of 2026. After which there is expected to be a six-month transitional period followed by a further six-month grace period. 

We'll update party leaders as soon as further details are released.

The ETIAS will apply to British citizens and other non-EU nationals visiting these Schengen countries:

• All EU countries excluding Ireland and Cyprus
• Plus the non-EU countries of Iceland, Switzerland, Norway and Lichtenstein

Also see the visa requirements for any students on your school trip who are not British nationals.

To travel to most EU countries your passport must: 

• Be less than 10 years old when you travel - check the date of issue is less than 10 years before the date you enter Europe
• Have more than 3 months left to run before you - check the expiry date is at least 3 months after the day you leave the country

Read our Essential Checklist for Your School Trip to Europe for more tips on travelling to the EU.

Yes.

We recommend that groups avoid collective passports and that students travel under their own passports where possible. You can read more about passport validity rules, EU border checks and visa requirements in our essential checklist for EU school trips.

EHICs are being replaced by GHICs. You can read about health care, passport validity and border rules in our essential guide to taking a school trip to Europe.