There are already changes underway to the way non-EU nationals travel through the Schengen area this academic year.
That’s because the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is now in a phased roll-out, meaning procedures may start to look and feel different at some border points before they’re introduced everywhere.
In this blog, we’ll explain what’s changing, what it means for school trips, and how to prepare—so you can confidently answer parent questions and travel with fewer surprises.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
Entry/Exit System (EES)
From 12 October 2025, the Entry/Exit System (EES) began to roll out across the EU. This new system applies to all non-EU nationals (including UK citizens). It replaces manual passport stamping with a digital record of when travellers enter and leave the Schengen area.
The rollout is being phased over six months, so not every border point will start using EES straight away. This means experiences may differ depending on when, where and how you’re travelling to your destination (air, coach, ferry, Eurostar).
Full implementation is expected by April 2026.
What checks are being carried out at the border?
Your passport will be scanned to collect your personal data (i.e. your full name, date of birth, etc.). Your biometric data (i.e. facial scan and fingerprints) will also be collected.
Where EES is live, border officials will also be asking the seven standard Schengen entry questions to all passengers more frequently (this means your students need to be prepared to answer these confidently and clearly).
We’ve created a handout that explains what the questions are and how to prepare your students for them. We recommend sharing this with your group before travel, so they feel comfortable and know what to expect.
How will the introduction of EES affect school groups?
- Coach trips:
EES is now fully operational at both Dover and Folkestone. All coaches travelling through Dover now need to use new routes through the Western Docks, and passengers are being processed through new border kiosk areas. - Air trips:
EES isn't yet fully live at all airports due to the phased rollout. Airports are generally better equipped to manage new systems like this, but some delays should be expected on arrival at your destination during the transition.
The system is good news for groups in the long run, as it’ll automate border controls and mean you no longer need your passport stamped (so, eventually, it should make passing through border control a bit quicker).
And it’ll make it easier for the relevant authorities to identify people who are travelling on falsified documents, under fake identities or who have overstayed (making it easier to prevent crime and terrorism).
Ultimately, it is going to speed up passport control. But processing times will increase initially (because everyone will need to have their fingerprints scanned and have a facial image taken the first time they travel after it’s brought in).
Is there anything I need to do ahead of travel?
There’s nothing you need to do before arriving at the border, and there’s no cost for EES registration. But we do recommend that you brief students and parents ahead of time (so everybody knows what to expect).
We’d also recommend printing out our sheet of Schengen border questions (to get your students ready to answer them as they pass through the border).
Top tips for group leaders to prepare for EES
- Brief students and parents about the new checks at the borders and what to expect if they’re in place when you travel.
- Print and fill out our Schengen border questions handout and share with your student (so they’re confident they have their answers prepared).
Questions?
If you’ve got any questions or concerns, please do get in touch. We’re here to help make sure your trip runs smoothly (and we’ll be keeping on top of all the updates), so we’re always happy to help.