EES starts on 12th October:

From 12 October 2025, Spain (and most Schengen countries) will begin using the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)—a new, digital border-control system that replaces manual passport stamping for most visitors from outside the EU/Schengen area. The roll-out is gradual for up to six months, so procedures may differ slightly depending on the airport/port you use between October 2025 and April 2026.

EES is an automated system that records a traveller’s entry and exit at the Schengen external border and stores certain data (biographic + biometrics). It aims to modernise border checks, speed up crossings once registered, and automatically keep count of the 90-days-in-any-180-day rule for short stays.

What’s recorded at first registration (for most UK visitors):

• Passport details

• Facial image and four fingerprints (children under 12 are not fingerprinted)

• Date/place of entry (and later, exit)
  Data retention is generally three years, extending to five years if no exit is recorded after the authorised stay expires.

When does it start—and how fast is enforcement?

• Start date: 12 October 2025 (Schengen-wide).

• Transitional roll-out: up to 180 days (until around 10 April 2026). During this time, some borders may still use manual stamping while kiosks/staffing ramp up. Expect differences by country/border point.

What changes at Spanish borders?

At your first trip after 12 October, if you’re a non-EU visitor (e.g., most UK holidaymakers), you’ll be asked to enrol in EES:

1. Use a self-service kiosk or go to a border booth.

2. Scan your passport; the system captures a live photo and fingerprints (except under-12s).

3. A border officer verifies and finalises the check.

Once enrolled, later trips are usually quicker (passport scan + live photo; no repeat fingerprints unless required). Expect some extra time at busy periods during the initial months.

For UK visitors to Spain (tourists, second-home owners without residency)

• You are subject to EES. Your first post-launch entry will include biometric capture; passport stamps will largely be phased out once the system is fully active.

• Under-12s: no fingerprints required (a photo may still be taken).

• 90/180 rule: EES will automatically track your days in the Schengen Area. Overstays may be flagged in the system.

• During the transition (Oct–Apr): processes may vary by airport/port. You might still receive a manual stamp while systems bed in.

Tip for smooth travel: Allow a little extra time for the first entry after 12 October, have accommodation/return-travel details handy in case officers ask (these are not new post-Brexit rules, but checks may feel stricter during the roll-out).

For UK nationals resident in Spain (holders of a TIE)

• EES does not apply to holders of residence permits (like Spain’s TIE). If you are a UK national with a valid TIE and passport, you are exempt from EES registration at Spanish (and other Schengen) external borders.

• The UK Embassy in Spain has explicitly confirmed that TIE holders do not need to register in EES; your passport may still be stamped in some cases during the transition, but EES enrolment is not required. Carry your TIE and passport and use the lane indicated for residents where available.

What about ETIAS?

ETIAS (the EU’s travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors) is separate from EES and not yet in force. Current EU planning places ETIAS after EES becomes fully operational (widely signposted for late 2026). When it starts, most UK visitors will need an online authorisation before travel; TIE-holding residents won’t need ETIAS for re-entering Spain as residents.

Quick FAQs

Does EES apply on flights from the UK to Spain?
Yes—UK→Spain is an external Schengen border. EES applies to non-resident UK travellers entering Spain.

Will kids be fingerprinted?
No, under-12s don’t give fingerprints; a facial photo may be taken.

How long is my data kept?
Entry/exit records are typically kept three years; if no exit is recorded after your authorised stay expires, data related to the stay can be kept up to five years.

Practical checklist

• UK visitors (no residency):

  • Expect to enrol once (fingerprints + photo) after 12 Oct.

  • Keep your passport and basic trip documents ready.

  • Allow extra time at the border during the initial months.

• UK residents in Spain (TIE holders):

  • Travel with TIE + passport; EES does not apply to you.

  • Procedures may still feel different during the transition, but no EES enrolment is required.