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Entry exit system

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES)

Everything you need to know about the Entry/Exit System (EES) when travelling to/from London as a non-EU national.

Important

We’ll be launching the next phase of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout from 02 February 2026. The information on this page applies to non-EU nationals travelling to/from London from this date. If you’re travelling before 12 January 2026, find out here how EES may impact your journey.

EU border requirement for non-EU nationals

Find out what the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is and what it means for your journey to/from London.

What is EES?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new digital system which logs every time you enter or exit the EU. It will make border checks more secure and will eventually replace manual passport stamping. It involves:

scanning your passport
registering a facial image
providing your fingerprints (on first registration for passengers aged 12 or over only)

EES isn’t like a travel authorisation or visa – it's completely free and you don’t need to apply for anything ahead of your journey. EES border checks all happen at your departure station on the day of travel.

Who does EES apply to?

EES applies to non-EU nationals travelling to the EU for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period).

It applies to passengers of all ages, whether you have a short-stay visa or you’re visa exempt.

It doesn’t apply to:

Non-EU nationals with residence rights in the EU or a long-stay visa (for stays exceeding 90 days)
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals

Other exemptions may apply. Check the EES website (opens in a new tab) for more info.

What do I need to do?

You’ll need to complete EES registration at the station before departure every time you travel to or from London. Registration can only be completed at your departure station on the day of travel.

All border and luggage checks are carried out before departure, so you can just hop off the train when you arrive.

Please select your departure station below to find out what you’ll need to do. The EES registration process isn’t the same at all our stations – so you’ll need to check both the outbound and return leg of your trip.

How much time do I need to allow for EES registration?

Eurostar Standard or Eurostar Plus

Please arrive at your departure station at the time shown on your ticket. This will allow enough time for EES and ticket, security and border checks.

Ticket checks close 30 minutes before departure. But please ensure that you follow our advice and do not arrive just before ticket checks close.

To make sure it's up to date, download your ticket close to your travel date.

Eurostar Premier

Eurostar Premier priority ticket checks close 15 minutes before departure. But please arrive at the station with enough time to complete all pre-departure steps.

Haven't booked your ticket yet?

Check our general advice on when to arrive at the station. The timings on that page are for guidance only and can sometimes change.

How do I find out more about EES?

For more info about EES, including how your personal data is used, please visit the official EES website (opens in a new tab).

Other travel rules that apply to your journey

Find out what travel requirements apply for your journey to or from London.

Check requirements

EES registration and departure process in our stations

Go to the EES pre-registration kiosks at the time shown on your ticket. Registration can only be completed at the station on the day of travel.

EES pre-registration kiosks can be found in 3 locations (see map below):
- zone A or C for Eurostar Standard and Eurostar Plus customers. Complete your Advance Passenger Information in Manage your booking to find out where you should go for your EES registration.
- zone B for Eurostar Premier passengers, Carte Blanche and Étoile members, and customers with accessibility needs.
- zone A for group bookings with more than 10 travellers.
Complete your EES registration.

You’ll need to:
- scan your passport
- register a facial image
- provide your fingerprints (on first registration for passengers aged 12 or over only)
  
  Once your EES registration is complete, the pre-registration kiosk will tell you if you should go to a booth with a border agent or use the ePassport gates at French passport control.
  
  Pre-registration kiosks are accessible. If you have a condition which makes it difficult to use a touchscreen or you need assistance, please go directly to Eurostar departures. EES registration will be completed at French passport control after you've been through the ticket gates, security and UK exit checks.
Go to Eurostar departures and scan your ticket at the ticket gates. Our team will be there to guide you to the right lane.
Go through security checks with your luggage.
Go through UK exit passport checks.
Go to French passport control. Use the ePassport gates if you were instructed to by an EES pre-registration kiosk. Or speak to a border agent at a booth if you weren't sent to the ePassport gates or couldn't use a kiosk.

Want to know more about departing from London St Pancras Int’l? Please check out our London St Pancras Int’l train station guide.

Go to the EES pre-registration kiosks at the time shown on your ticket. Registration can only be completed at the station on the day of travel.

You'll find the kiosks at the entrance of the Eurostar departures area on the first-floor balcony. To get there, follow the signs with a UK flag to 'Hall 2', then use the escalators opposite platform 17 or the lifts opposite platforms 9 and 10. Once you’re on the first-floor balcony, our team will be there to guide you to the right lane.
Complete your EES registration.

You’ll need to:
- scan your passport
- register a facial image
- provide your fingerprints (on first registration for passengers aged 12 or over only)
  
  Once your EES registration is complete, the pre-registration kiosk will tell you if you should go to a booth with a border agent or use the ePassport gates at French passport control.
  
  Pre-registration kiosks are accessible. If you have a condition which makes it difficult to use a touchscreen or you need assistance, please go directly to the Eurostar ticket gates. EES registration will be completed at French passport control with a border agent after you've been through the ticket gates.
Go to the Eurostar ticket gates and scan your ticket.
Go to French passport control. Use the ePassport gates if you were instructed to by an EES pre-registration kiosk. Or speak to a border agent at a booth if you weren't sent to the ePassport gates or couldn't use a kiosk.
Go through UK passport control.
Go through security checks with your luggage.

Want to know more about departing from Paris Gare du Nord? Please check out our Paris Gare du Nord train station guide.

Go directly to Eurostar departures for London at the time shown on your ticket. Follow signs for platforms 1 and 2 to ‘Channel terminal’.
Scan your ticket at the ticket gates. Our team will be there to guide you to the right lane.
Go through security checks with your luggage.
Go through EES registration at a booth with a Belgian border agent.

You'll need to:
- scan your passport
- register a facial image
- provide your fingerprints (on first registration for passengers aged 12 or over only)
Go through UK passport control.

Want to know more about departing from Brussels-Midi/Zuid? Please check out our Brussels-Midi/Zuid train station guide.

Go directly to Eurostar departures for London in Hall 4 at the time shown on your ticket.
Scan your ticket at the ticket gates. Our team will be there to guide you to the right lane.
Go through EES registration at a booth with a French border agent.

You'll need to:
- scan your passport
- register a facial image
- provide your fingerprints (on first registration for passengers aged 12 or over only)
Go through UK passport control.
Go through security checks with your luggage.