What South African travellers need to know about the EU's new biometric border control
Biometrics will replace passport stamps at EU border from October 12.
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From October 12, 2025, the European Union will begin rolling out its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES), replacing traditional passport stamps with biometric checks.
This means that every non-EU visitor, including travellers from the UK and South Africa, will need to submit fingerprints and facial scans before entering any of the EU’s 27 member states.
The system, designed to tighten border control and streamline future travel, will be introduced gradually over a six-month period and is expected to be fully operational by April 2026.
Digital border control
Instead of having a border official manually stamp your passport, the new EES will record travellers’ personal details and biometric data at their point of departure - whether that’s an airport, ferry terminal or train station.
Specialised booths will be set up to capture this information, which will be valid for three years for short-term visits under 90 days.
While there is no cost to register, providing biometric data is mandatory. Failure to comply will result in denied entry.
Officials have stressed that the aim is to reduce congestion in the long term.
Once a traveller’s data is in the system, future border crossings should be faster, especially with the use of e-gates.
A spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed that, “Once the EES is in place, UK nationals will therefore be able to use e-gates where they are available, provided they are registered in the system.”
Concerns over queues and delays
Despite its promises of efficiency, the upcoming shift has raised concerns about bottlenecks - particularly during peak travel seasons.
This new biometric step is expected to initially increase waiting times, especially as the infrastructure is put in place and travellers adjust.
The EU maintains that delays will reduce over time as travellers’ biometric records are stored and automated systems take over more of the work.
What South African travellers can expect
For South African passport holders, if you're planning a European holiday, it’s worth checking with your airline or travel agent about what procedures are in place at your port of entry.
Although South Africans typically need a Schengen visa, this new system will apply in addition to existing visa checks.
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