A major European Union (EU) travel change will hit all British tourists flying to 29 European countries from Saturday, including Spain, France and Italy.

From October 12, 2025, Brits will be required to register their fingerprints and a facial photo at European borders before being allowed to enter. The stricter rules are part of a new Entry/Exit System (EES) designed to improve border security within the EU and its neighbouring countries by stopping visitors overstaying, and to reduce illegal migration within the Schengen area. The EES was initially due to launch last year but it was delayed and is now due to start from Saturday, replacing the current system of manually stamping passports with biometric data instead. The change is part of a post-Brexit deal struck between the UK government and the EU and will allow Brits at European airports to use e-gates. It means it will be quicker and easier for passengers flying into and out of EU countries to get through airport security.

Since Brexit, British tourists arriving at EU airports have had to queue for manned desks to have their passports physically stamped, as opposed to using the automated gates with facial recognition technology.

The process has led to many facing long queues on arrival at border control, particularly during peak holiday periods, but this is set to change under new rules from Saturday that will allow Brits to access e-gates at EU airports.

The automated EES system will be used to register non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries, including Spain, France and Italy.

As part of the entry process, Brits will be required to register their fingerprints and provide a facial image on arrival, and this data will then be digitally stored for up to three years from their last recorded trip.

The EU said: “The new Entry/Exit System (EES) will start operations on 12 October 2025. European countries using the EES will introduce the system gradually at their external borders. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026.”

For the purpose of the EES, ‘non-EU national’ means a traveller not holding the nationality of any European Union country or the nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, and ‘short stay’ means up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES.

Entries and exits, or entry refusals will be electronically registered in the EES, but in Cyprus and Ireland – despite being countries of the EU – passports will still be stamped manually.

The EU adds: “The Entry/Exit System (EES) will be deployed gradually across the external borders of the 29 European countries over a period of 6 months. These European countries will introduce the different elements of the EES in phases, including the collection of biometric data, such as facial image and fingerprints.

“This means that travellers’ biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) might not be collected at every border crossing point right away, and their personal information may not be registered in the system. Passports will continue to be stamped as usual.

“This progressive implementation will last until 9 April 2026. From 10 April 2026, the EES will be fully operational at all external border crossing points of the European countries using the system.”

The 29 European countries where the EES will be in operation are:

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