- British travelers can now use eGates at many hubs depending on airport-specific Entry/Exit System (EES) rollouts.
- The new system digitally records biometric data including fingerprints and facial scans, gradually replacing manual passport stamps.
- Travelers should expect potential delays at busy terminals as the phased rollout continues until September 2026.
(UNITED KINGDOM) British passport holders can now use eGates at many major European airports, but access still depends on the country, the airport, and whether the new Entry/Exit System (EES) has been switched on at that border point. The system began phased rollout on October 12, 2025, and full operation is not due until September 2026. For UK travelers, that means faster crossings in some places, longer queues in others, and a border process that is still changing.
The main shift is simple: Europe is moving away from manual stamping and toward biometric checks. British travelers are now treated as third-country nationals after Brexit, so they face rules that were not part of everyday travel before 2020. EES records fingerprints for travelers over 12, takes a facial photo, and stores the entry record digitally for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. That digital record is meant to replace repeated passport stamps once the system is fully in place.
During this transition, travelers often face both systems at once. Many borders still stamp passports while also collecting biometrics, which adds time at busy crossings. Airports and ferry terminals saw serious problems during trial runs, including queues of more than two hours at Christmas 2025, staffing shortages, and kiosk failures. Airlines later warned of delays of up to four hours during summer 2026. VisaVerge.com reports that the mixed rollout is the biggest reason travelers still need to plan for manual checks even when eGates are available.
Where British travelers can use eGates
The broad pattern is clear: major hubs are moving first, and smaller airports are following more slowly. Spain leads with wide access at Madrid Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, and Alicante. Palma had already kept UK eGate use in place after Brexit, and it is now shifting into a fuller EES-linked setup. Portugal offers access at Lisbon and Faro. Italy has partial rollout at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa. The Netherlands allows British travelers at Amsterdam Schiphol after kiosk registration. Germany has use at Frankfurt and Munich, while Berlin Brandenburg is still testing. France offers partial access at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly, but first-time entrants often still use manual lanes.
Other Schengen states are following the same model. Greece, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are part of the wider system. Ireland and Cyprus are exempt, so EES and eGates do not apply there. Bulgaria and Romania vary because they are only partly inside Schengen. By September 2026, large airports are expected to offer near-universal eGate access for biometric UK passports.
The key document is a biometric passport with the chip symbol. Staff check the chip, compare the live face scan with the passport photo, and then open the gate in seconds if everything matches. Children under 12 do not give fingerprints, but they still need a photo. Families often end up in manual lanes together, especially during first registration.
What happens at the border
Arrival should now be treated as a two-stage process. First-time EES users usually go to a kiosk or staffed desk for biometrics. After that, the traveler may move to an eGate where the passport chip and face scan are matched. Repeat travelers often skip the longer first-time step and go straight to the gate. If a passport is damaged, non-biometric, or unreadable, the traveler is sent to a manual queue.
The practical effect is time. At quiet times, the crossing can still take minutes. At peak times, the same border can take much longer, so arriving early remains the safest choice. Border staff have also been using manual overrides when machines fail or when a traveler needs first registration. That is why airport websites now matter as much as flight times. A live check before departure can save a missed connection.
At the UK side of juxtaposed controls, including Dover, Folkestone Eurotunnel, and St Pancras Eurostar, EES checks happen before departure. The UK government has supported those border posts with £10.5 million to help with the change. Travelers using those routes should expect the biometric process before they even board.
For official updates on the system, the European Union’s Travel Europe information page remains the main public reference point. It is the place to watch for announcements on EES and the later ETIAS launch.
ETIAS comes next
ETIAS is not live yet, but it is the next rule British travelers need to watch. It is expected in autumn 2026, possibly later. Once active, it will require visa-free travelers to apply online before entering the Schengen area. The fee is €7, and the authorization is valid for three years. The process is separate from EES, but the two systems will sit alongside each other.
That means British visitors will soon face a pre-travel check and an arrival check. EES records the border crossing. ETIAS checks permission before travel. For frequent holidaymakers, business travelers, and families making repeated trips, that adds another layer of planning. The UK’s own ETA system, now mandatory for many non-visa visitors from February 25, 2026, shows how both sides of the Channel are moving toward more digital border control.
There are also privacy and exemption points worth noting. Biometrics are stored under EU rules and used only by officials who need access. Dual EU-UK citizens traveling on an EU passport are exempt from the UK passport process. So are people protected under the Withdrawal Agreement.
How to prepare without losing time
British travelers should check three things before leaving home. First, the passport must be biometric and in good condition. Second, it should be valid for at least six months beyond the trip. Third, travelers should check the airport’s live border information, because access can change quickly during the rollout. Arriving 20 to 30 minutes earlier than usual is a sensible buffer during busy periods.
Travelers with pets have one useful change on their side. Under the 2025 deal, the EU accepts UK pet passports for cats and dogs, which removes the need for per-trip vet certificates on repeat journeys. That makes family travel easier, especially for frequent visitors heading to holiday homes or relatives.
The larger picture is a border system still settling into place. The UK and EU agreed in May 2025 to widen eGate access, but the EES rollout has stretched the timetable. The result is a mixed experience: fast crossings at some airports, manual checks at others, and regular delays during peak travel periods. For now, the best rule is simple. Carry a biometric passport, allow extra time, and expect the border to work differently from one country to the next.
