The Entry/Exit System (EES) started operation on 12 October and will be deployed gradually across the external borders of the 29 European countries in the Schengen Area (25 EU member states and 4 non-EU countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland)) over a period of six months. These European countries will introduce the different elements of the EES in phases, including the collection of biometric data, such as facial image and fingerprints. It is planned that from 10 April 2026, the EES will be fully operational at all Schengen external border crossing points.

But how does the EES apply to Brexit Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries?

UK nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement will be exempt from registration in the EES only if they hold a specific residence document. These documents are:

• a valid Withdrawal Agreement residence document issued by the Member State that is their Withdrawal Agreement host State (M card in Belgium);
• a valid Withdrawal Agreement frontier worker document issued by the Member State that is their Withdrawal Agreement State of work (N card in Belgium) ;
• a valid special temporary Withdrawal Agreement residence document issued by the Member State that is their Withdrawal Agreement host State; or
• a certain valid residence permit.

Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries who do not hold any of the above documents will be registered in the EES. They can later ask to have their data deleted or amended in the system if they show that they hold any of the above documents.

Find out more EES FAQs here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/faq#how-does-ees-apply-to-withdrawal-agreement