Yes. The European Union Entry/Exit System, known as EES, applies to most non-European Union passengers making a short stay when they travel on Eurostar between London and the Schengen Area. This includes most visitors using British, American, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passports. On a London departure, the Schengen entry check normally happens at London St Pancras before boarding, so passengers do not usually face another routine immigration check on arrival in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
EES began progressive operation on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational at the external border crossing points of the 29 participating European countries since 10 April 2026. It electronically records eligible travellers’ entries and exits and has replaced routine manual passport stamping for those travellers.
Who must use EES on Eurostar
EES generally applies to non-European Union nationals entering or leaving a participating European country for a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. It applies both to visa-exempt visitors and to people travelling with a short-stay Schengen visa.
Passengers commonly covered include short-stay visitors with passports issued by:
- the United Kingdom;
- the United States;
- Canada;
- Australia and New Zealand; and
- other countries outside the European Union, subject to the official exemptions.
Nationality is not the only factor. A valid residence document, a long-stay visa or a qualifying family-member residence card can change the answer. EES does not apply to citizens of European Union countries or to nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
A dual national should show their European Union, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian or Swiss passport or accepted national identity document at border control when relying on that nationality. Presenting only a non-European Union passport can complicate the assessment.
Travellers are normally outside EES if they hold a valid residence permit or long-stay visa issued by an EES country. It also does not normally apply to qualifying non-European Union family members of European Union, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian or Swiss citizens who hold the required residence card or residence permit. British citizens protected by the Withdrawal Agreement are exempt when they present the appropriate residence document issued by their European host country.
United Kingdom immigration permission, including a United Kingdom eVisa or a former biometric residence permit, is not an EES exemption by itself. It is not a residence permit issued by an EES country. Travellers relying on a European residence document should carry both that document and the passport used for travel. For more detail, see Does EES Apply to Residence Permit Holders.
Where Eurostar EES checks take place
London St Pancras has juxtaposed border controls. French border officers carry out the Schengen entry check in the United Kingdom before passengers board Eurostar services to France, Belgium or the Netherlands. For a passenger covered by EES, that is where the entry record is created or updated.
The precise layout and sequence can change, so follow Eurostar staff and station signs. The departure process includes ticket checks, luggage security and immigration controls. Eligible passengers may also be directed to a self-service EES pre-registration kiosk. The kiosk can scan a passport and collect a facial image and fingerprints, but it does not replace the border check: a border officer still assesses whether the traveller meets the conditions for entry.
Eurostar says that passengers in Eurostar Premier, or Carte Blanche and Étoile Club Eurostar members, may be invited to use kiosks opposite the Eurostar Premier priority ticket gates at St Pancras. Other kiosk arrangements may be used when directed by staff. Do not join a queue or look for a kiosk without instruction.
After the French entry check at St Pancras, passengers normally leave the train at their continental destination without another routine immigration check. Customs officers can still conduct checks.
On journeys to London, the Schengen exit procedure and United Kingdom entry controls normally take place before boarding at the continental departure station. This means passengers can usually leave the train at St Pancras without another routine passport check.
- Paris to London: French authorities carry out the Schengen exit check before United Kingdom Border Force conducts the United Kingdom entry check.
- Brussels to London: Belgian authorities carry out the Schengen exit check before the United Kingdom entry check.
- Amsterdam or Rotterdam to London: Dutch authorities carry out the Schengen exit check before the United Kingdom entry check on direct services.
- Travel via Brussels: passengers changing to a London train complete the required security and border procedures at Brussels before boarding that train.
The exit record helps authorities calculate compliance with the 90-days-in-180-days rule. A traveller may be asked for a new facial image or fingerprint scan to verify their identity against an existing EES record.
Biometrics and repeat Eurostar journeys
For a first EES registration, border authorities create an individual file using travel-document and personal details, a facial image and, where required, fingerprints. EES also records the date and place of each covered entry and exit. Registration is free, requires no appointment and is completed at the border on the day of travel.
On later trips, every covered Schengen entry and exit is still recorded. However, travellers do not normally start from scratch each time. Border authorities can find the existing file and verify identity using a live facial image, fingerprints or another permitted process. The equipment and exact procedure can vary by border point. See Do You Need to Give Fingerprints Every Time With EES for a closer explanation.
Children are not automatically exempt from EES. A child who is otherwise within scope needs an EES record, but children younger than twelve do not provide fingerprints. Their passport details and facial image may still be recorded. Families should allow time for each child to complete the relevant border procedure.
If you believe you are exempt, show the relevant residence permit, long-stay visa or residence card to a border officer before providing EES biometrics. A border officer can assess the document and direct you to the correct process.
Do not confuse EES with ETIAS
EES is a border-registration system, not a visa or travel authorisation. It is free and does not require an advance application.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, known as ETIAS, is different. Once operating, it will be an online travel authorisation for eligible visa-exempt travellers before travel to participating European countries. The current application fee is €20, although some travellers will be exempt from the fee.
As of 14 September 2026, ETIAS is not operating and applications are not being collected. The European Union says it will start operations in the last quarter of 2026; it will announce the specific start date separately. Do not pay a third-party website for an ETIAS application before the official system opens.
Eurostar passengers travelling to or from the United Kingdom must still provide Advance Passenger Information for their journey. Carry the passport used for the booking, plus any visa, residence permit or family-member residence card needed to show your status.
How early to arrive for EES checks
Eurostar advises passengers travelling to or from London to arrive at the time shown on their current ticket. That recommendation includes time for ticket, security, border and applicable EES procedures. Download or refresh the ticket close to departure rather than relying on an old screenshot, a previous journey or the gate-closing time.
| Departure station | Standard and Plus | Premier |
|---|---|---|
| London St Pancras | 75 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Paris Gare du Nord | 75 to 90 minutes | 45 to 60 minutes |
| Brussels-Midi/Zuid | 45 to 60 minutes | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Amsterdam Centraal | 75 to 90 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Rotterdam Centraal | 45 to 60 minutes | 30 minutes |
These are Eurostar’s general recommendations and can change. The ticket time is the instruction for the booked service. Arrive at that time, particularly when travelling during busy periods, with children or with a first EES registration to complete.
