UK Passport Holders Urged to Take Key Step Before October 12

A travel expert has issued a warning for British passport holders planning trips to Europe from October 12 onwards, due to upcoming changes to border control procedures.

Vix Aguilera, a UK-based travel agent accredited by ATOL and ABTA, shared on TikTok that a new Entry/Exit System (EES) will be introduced for non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area. The update involves using automated self-service kiosks instead of manual passport stamping. Travellers will be required to submit facial recognition data and fingerprints upon arrival, which will be stored in a central database and linked to their UK passport.

According to Vix, the biometric data will be valid for three years, so the process will only need to be completed once during that time frame. The rollout begins on October 12, but it will happen in phases. In the first 29 days, there won’t be a mandatory requirement, but after that, 10% of passengers will be required to complete the scan.

She assured travellers that airport staff will assist with the new procedures, so there's no need for advanced preparation—just follow directions at the eGates. However, she warned people not to confuse this system with ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), a separate travel requirement coming at the end of 2026, which will require pre-travel authorisation.

So, who will this new EES system affect? It applies to non-EU travellers, including British citizens, entering any Schengen Area country from October 12 and staying for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

One TikTok viewer praised Vix’s explanation, saying it cleared up confusion about ETIAS and helped them feel more prepared for an upcoming trip in December.

The UK government confirmed the EES is intended to improve EU border security, track overstays, and cut illegal migration. While it will streamline border checks in the long term, travellers should be ready for some delays, especially at busy times.

For those entering the Schengen area through UK points like Dover, Eurotunnel Folkestone, or St Pancras International, the EES checks will happen before leaving the UK. Fingerprints or facial photos may also be required when exiting the Schengen zone.

Countries in the Schengen Area include:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.