EES: Lack of equipment stalls checks for cross-Channel travellers 

Most passengers travelling from the UK to France via Eurostar, ferries and the Channel Tunnel will not face new biometric border checks in the coming weeks, despite an approaching EU deadline for the full rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES).

From April 10, most non-EU travellers, including Britons, were expected to have their fingerprints and facial images recorded when entering and leaving the Schengen area.

However, those using key cross-Channel routes should expect no change to current procedures for now, as technical issues in France have delayed the introduction of the new system.

No change for most cross-Channel passengers in April

French authorities have yet to supply the necessary systems to ports and operators handling these journeys, reports The Guardian. 

As a result, Eurotunnel said the system would only advance incrementally from April 10, with French border police beginning the creation of EES files. 

However, it stressed that this phase will not involve biometric data collection and passengers will not be asked to provide fingerprints or facial scans. 

A spokesperson for Eurotunnel’s Le Shuttle added that customers should expect no change to current procedures.

The delay to the EES rollout affects France’s juxtaposed border points on UK soil, including those for Eurostar, Le Shuttle and cross-Channel ferries. 

Only certain categories of traveller - such as ferry coach passengers, lorry drivers and some ferry foot passengers - are currently undergoing EES procedures, which have been gradually introduced since October 2025.

Operators on cross-Channel routes say passengers should continue to follow existing arrival times, with no immediate changes to procedures.

Wider rollout uneven across Europe

The EES is designed to replace manual passport stamping with a centralised digital system recording entries and exits, as well as biometric identifiers. Non-EU people living in France with a valid visa or residency card are not impacted by EES although they may be caught in border queues - to date no solution for them to use Parafe gates has been announced.

The system aims to improve security and enforcement of the 90/180-day rule for short stays in the Schengen area.

Since its phased-in launch began in October 2025, the EES has logged more than 17 million travellers, 30 million border crossings, roughly 16,000 entry refusals in its first four months - and over 4,000 overstayers.

However, its rollout has been uneven across Europe. 

Some airports have reported long queues linked to biometric checks, while others have installed equipment that is not yet operational. 

Industry groups have warned of disruption during peak travel periods, particularly around Easter and into the summer.

Despite the situation on the ground, official EU communications still indicate that full EES requirements will apply from April 10. UK government advice has also urged travellers to allow extra time for border checks.

Under EU rules, member states were expected to have fully operational biometric controls in place within six months of the system’s launch in October 2025 - a deadline France appears set to miss.

While the system is governed by several EU laws, the French Interior Ministry told The Connexion in February that member states have some leeway as to its implementation.

“The phased rollout of EES will come to an end on April 9. From that date, 100% of passenger flows must be registered.

“Nevertheless, member states will have the option of continuing to apply certain flexibilities provided for under the European legal framework for several more months, which will help maintain satisfactory levels of flow at the borders.”

French authorities are expected to continue a gradual approach, with initial steps from April involving the creation of digital entry records without collecting biometric data.