The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has changed its travel advice for some 29 countries across, including many that are hugely popular with UK holidaymakers.

On Wednesday, February 18, the FCDO updated its guidance for travel to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The update relates to the roll-out of the European Union‘s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES).

New FCDO advice reads: “EES checks are being introduced in a phased way across external borders, with full operation expected from April 10, 2026. This means that when you travel into the Schengen area for short stays, you may need to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo.

“You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration. On your first visit into a Schengen country, you may be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk.”

Travellers are advised to follow staff’s guidance at the port of entry. The FCDO alert continues: “You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area. Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken.

“EES may take each passenger a few minutes extra to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border. Until EES is fully rolled out your passport will continue to be stamped, even if you’ve already been registered for EES.

“Once EES is fully rolled out, it will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays and you will input biometric details every time you enter or exit.

“If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International and you are asked to register for EES, the information will be taken at the border before you leave the UK.”

A traveller’s digital EES record is valid for three years. If you enter the Schengen zone again during this period, you will still only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border, when you enter and exit.