Introduction of EES in October 2025
As you will be aware, following the UK’s exit from the EU in 2021, UK nationals are subject to the limit of spending 90 days in any 180-day period (“90/180”) for short stays within the Schengen area. This visa free limit applies to both permitted work and leisure journeys, is measured cumulatively across the entire Schengen area (rather than by country) and is calculated on a rolling basis. The limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals. As such it is not UK Government policy. Since EU exit, UK national hauliers and coach drivers have been subject to this limit.
Further guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/travel-to-eu-schengen-area.
The EU is expected to start the EES this October. The system will electronically record all entries and exits to the Schengen area and provide an automated calculation of the total time spent in Schengen. Roll-out of the system will be phased, but over time it will replace the current system of manual recording through the wet stamping of passports. EES will require entrants to the Schengen area, including drivers, to scan their passport, fingerprints and/or take a photo of their face. If a UK national driver exceeds the 90/180 limit, this will be flagged by the system.
Exceeding the 90/180 limit may result in EU Member State border officials issuing penalties, fines, suspensions or bans from re-entry into the EU. There could also be a risk of drivers and vehicles being turned around at the UK-EU border. The UK continues to work with the EU, and France specifically, to understand the timelines and phasing for EES implementation.
Further guidance can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-entryexit-system and https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees.
EES border checks may take a few extra minutes to complete, and queue times will likely vary from location to location depending on traveller volumes and processing capacity. The UK Government is working closely with ports, travel operators and European partners to make sure there are measures in place to minimise any potential disruption. The Department for Transport continues to work closely with partners across Kent to ensure there are scalable contingency plans in place ahead of EES implementation at the juxtaposed portals. The department will also share the Transport Industry EES Toolkit after summer to support engagement with the travelling public.
We strongly recommend that you:
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Review the schedules of UK national drivers travelling regularly into the Schengen area to ensure compliance with 90/180 limits.
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Brief relevant staff on the upcoming EES system and its implications.
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Monitor updates from the Government regarding the EU’s EES roll-out at the guidance link noted above.
Research Study
The Department is undertaking a study to improve understanding of the effects of the 90/180 rule and planning for EES implementation on commercial vehicle operators. This will involve a short online survey. Our research partner SYSTRA may write to you in
coming weeks with further details of the research including a QR code and link to access the survey. We would greatly appreciate your participation.
Yours sincerely,
Hannah Tooze and Katherine Macdivitt
Department for Transport