- Families in Scotland urged to remember EU’s Entry/Exit system ahead of school holidays.
- Advised to always check with travel operators on when to arrive at a port or airport.
As schools in Scotland break up for the holidays, families heading to Europe are being advised to remember the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and check with travel operators.
EES replaces passport stamps, digitally recording each time a non-EU national enters or exits the Schengen area. This covers Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as all EU countries except Cyprus and Ireland.
It works by verifying your biometrics and passport details at the border.
In most cases, EES border checks occur at passport control on arrival in your destination country (your entry) and when you leave (your exit).
However, if you are travelling from Eurostar – St Pancras, Le Shuttle – Eurotunnel at Folkestone or a ferry from the Port of Dover, entry checks take place before you leave the UK.
While EES checks should take a few minutes per person, queues may be longer at busy times – particularly during the peak summer months.
Travellers are therefore urged to follow advice from travel operators- including for your journey to your destination, onward connections, and when returning to the UK.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, said: “As the school summer holidays begin in Scotland, it’s important that those heading abroad remember the EU’s Entry/Exit checks.
“We encourage all families to follow travel operator guidance to know when to arrive at airports and ports and what to expect.
“While this is an EU scheme, we continue working closely with European partners and the travel industry on keeping journeys smooth.”
The first time you complete EES checks, you’ll need to register. Your passport and fingerprints will be scanned, and your picture will be taken.
Once registered with EES, you only need a passport scan and one form of biometrics (a photo or fingerprints scan) on entry and exit, speeding up journeys.
EES registration lasts three years or when your passport expires, whichever is soonest.
Travel Aware also provides up‑to‑date country‑specific advice, including entry requirements like EES. Travellers can sign up for email alerts for a country.
More information on EES is available on GOV.UK and the EU’s Travel to Europe website.
· A Home Office Youtube explainer is available: How the EU Entry / Exit System (EES) Works
· EES digitally records compliance with EU rules allowing visa‑exempt stays of up to 90 days in every 180 days.
· There are some exemptions with EES. You will not need to complete EES checks if you hold a valid EU passport, or if you are legally resident in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland – including those covered by the Withdrawal Agreement – as long as you present the correct documents at the border.
· Full details of exemptions and further details on EES are available on the EU’s Travel to Europe website.
· Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprint scans; however, EU rules mean all children, including babies, require a photograph for a digital record.
· No EES checks are required for travel within the Schengen area (e.g. Spain to France), only when crossing the external borders.
· Travellers should allow for some additional time at the border when travelling to and from the EU, particularly when they have connections or onward journeys planned. It is always advised to check with your travel operator for the latest information.
· We also encourage travellers to continue to check the latest travel advice via Travel Aware and follow instructions from local authorities and border officials when travelling.
· For further information contact the Home Office Press Office on 0300 123 3535, or 07623 514 628 out of hours.
