Starting October 12, 2025, UK tourists planning to visit Spain, Greece, Italy, and other countries within the Schengen Area will face new entry regulations that will reshape how travelers are processed at border crossings. Non-EU nationals, including UK citizens, will be required to comply with a new system aimed at modernizing border controls and enhancing security across the region.
The Entry/Exit System (EES), which is set to replace the traditional passport stamping process, will be introduced across the 29 Schengen countries. This innovative system will collect biometric data, including fingerprints and facial recognition, as well as other travel information. The transition is expected to cause slight delays at border entry points, particularly during the early stages of the implementation. UK travelers should be prepared for a new border control experience when visiting popular tourist destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy, and beyond.
Unlike the current manual process of passport stamping, the new system is designed to capture biometric information, providing a more accurate and secure way to manage entries and exits. While travelers will experience a more secure process, they may face longer waiting times initially, as the system collects and verifies biometric data. As the system becomes fully integrated, these delays are expected to reduce over time, offering smoother and more efficient border checks in the future.
The EES is designed to improve the management of external borders for the Schengen Area. The new system aims to collect more precise data on who is entering and leaving the zone, ensuring that authorities can more easily detect individuals who overstay their allowed time or use fraudulent travel documents. The introduction of biometric data will also reduce the risk of human error that could occur with passport stamps, improving the accuracy and security of the process.
In addition to enhancing security, the new system will help tackle issues such as irregular migration. By tracking each individual’s movements more reliably, border authorities will be better equipped to identify those who are staying in the Schengen Area illegally. Moreover, the system’s ability to detect document fraud will further contribute to securing the region’s borders.
While the change may be seen as an inconvenience by some travelers, the shift towards biometric data collection will ultimately result in smoother travel experiences for legitimate visitors. The automated checks enabled by the EES will help reduce processing times at border points once the system is fully operational.
For UK tourists, this new system means a departure from the usual border control procedures. Instead of the traditional passport stamp, travelers will be required to provide biometric data. This will include facial recognition scans and fingerprinting at the border, with the aim of ensuring that travelers are properly documented when entering or exiting the Schengen Zone.
This change is expected to result in some initial delays, particularly during peak travel seasons when border entry points are busy. Tourists should prepare for a slightly longer wait when crossing into Spain, Greece, Italy, or other Schengen countries. Although this may be inconvenient at first, the overall goal is to streamline the process and ensure the accuracy and safety of border checks in the long run.
The EES is also designed to facilitate quicker border crossing for frequent travelers. Once the system is fully in place and travelers’ biometric data is stored in the system, they will be able to pass through borders more quickly in the future, avoiding long lines and delays that are common today.
As with any technological innovation involving personal data, privacy and security are central to the implementation of the new system. The EU has ensured that the EES will comply with the highest standards of data protection and privacy regulations. The biometric data collected during the entry and exit process will be securely stored, processed, and used only for border control purposes.
