From 12 October 2025, UK passport-holders travelling to Europe will encounter a new border regime. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) officially starts now, replacing the familiar passport-stamp routine with digital border checks requiring biometric data: fingerprints and a photograph.
In short: this is the biggest revamp to EU border procedures in decades, aimed at making travel both more secure and more streamlined and yes, that includes your ski trips to the Alps.
How EES Works
- On your first trip to a Schengen-area country, you will need scan your passport, capture biometric data (your fingerprints + a facial photograph), and answer a short questionnaire.
- This registration which will be tied to your passport, lasts either three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
- For future visits, instead of a physical stamp, the process is hopefully going to be much quicker: a simple passport scan and biometric check.
- The EES covers most Schengen countries (airports, seaports and land borders), including popular Alpine-region gateways such as France.
The new system replaces the old manual stamping method across all non-EU travellers entering the Schengen area.
What That Means for Your Ski Holiday
- If you’re flying into Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble (or any other Schengen airport), your first crossing after launch will involve biometric registration rather than stamping.
- For cross-Channel departures via UK exit points - like the Eurotunnel (Folkestone), Eurostar (St Pancras), or the Port of Dover - many travellers will undergo the EES check
before departure rather than on arrival in Europe.
- Once registered, you won’t need to repeat the full process for follow up ski trips (as long as you use the same passport). This should make subsequent journeys much quicker and smoother.
Are There Any Exemptions?
Yes, not everyone must register with EES:
- UK citizens who hold a valid Withdrawal Agreement residence card.
- UK/EU dual nationals travelling on an EU passport.
- Children under 12 will not have fingerprints taken - though they will still have a photograph captured.
So depending on your circumstances, you might not even need to go through the biometric registration process.
Smart Tips for Travellers
- No need to pre-register: the EES check happens automatically at the border (or in UK exit points for certain crossings).
- On your first trip under EES, allow a little extra time - and during busy periods, queues may be slightly longer than they used to be.
- Once you’re registered, future trips should be faster.
- Double-check your travel documents: if you hold dual nationality or a residence permit, make sure you use the correct passport or provide the right proof to avoid unnecessary checks.
EES - A Sign of How Travel Is Changing
The rollout of EES is just one part of a broader shift toward digital, biometric-based border management, whether we like it or not it's here to stay.
For ski holiday operators and travellers alike, that means changes to how we travel - but also the promise of quicker, more secure crossings once the system beds in.
What We Expect This Ski Season
Now that the Entry/Exit System is officially live, transfer operators are already getting to grips with the new process. Drivers, and airport teams have all had a chance to see how the system behaves in real terms, that said, the real test will come once the winter crowds roll in. A steady October half-term trickle is one thing… a New Year’s weekend of powder-hungry skiers is quite another. While transfer providers have contingency plans in place and are well-prepared for the busier weeks, nobody will know exactly how the system copes with peak-season volume until we get there. For customers with shorter wait times on higher season weeks, we'll be in touch to discuss further, and we'll assess the opening weeks of the season to see how the system copes.
In short: the industry is ready, and everything hopefully will operate as normal - but like any brand-new system, there’s still a touch of “wait and see” about it. As always, travellers who arrive prepared, allow a little extra time, don't dawdle off the plane, and follow the signs at border control should have no trouble getting to their transfer in time.
