EU Entry/Exit System
The EU introduced a new digital border check called the Entry/Exit system (EES) on 12 October. It will affect you if you're a British national travelling to a country in the Schengen area, which includes France.
What is changing?
If you're travelling to one of the 29 countries that make up the Schengen area using a British passport, you will need to register your biometric details such as fingerprints and have a photo taken. This will eventually replace the current system of manually stamping passports when you enter an EU country. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.
These checks will take 1 to 2 minutes per passenger. They will be introduced gradually from 12 October for 6 months, so individual ports and airports in the Schengen area will have different EES requirements until April 2026.
Travelling to France from Kent
For travellers using the Port of Dover and Le Shuttle in Folkestone, EES checks will take place at the border before you leave the UK. You should continue to follow the guidance of your operator when you travel.
When travelling by car, make sure that you are prepared for every single journey and check before you travel
Minimising the impact on Kent's roads
As the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF), we work closely together with KCC, Medway Council, district and borough councils, the emergency services, central government agencies and a range of other organisations to identify the risks of significant events on our communities and plan to minimise their effects. This includes the potential impact of EES on Kent’s roads.
To find out more visit our about us, Kent travel advice and traffic management FAQs pages.
More information about EES
For more information on EES, visit GOV.UK or the EU’s official travel Europe website.