UK-EU Summit Could Speed Up Border Control for British Travellers
New talks aim to ease delays at EU airports by expanding e-gate access to UK passport holders.
UK Pushes for Faster EU Border Access
At the EU-UK summit, British officials will push for faster airport processing for UK travellers using EU e-gates. UK European Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds says faster travel is a key goal of the summit discussions.
He stressed that avoiding long queues benefits both holidaymakers and business travellers visiting countries within the Schengen area.
What Are EU E-Gates – And Who Can Use Them?
France already allows UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders to use its Parafe fast-track e-gates.
These gates are found at major French airports like CDG, Orly, Lyon, Nice, and several Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals. This access is reciprocal—EU citizens can also use similar gates when entering the UK at most major airports.
The Post-Brexit Passport Stamp Requirement
Despite access to e-gates, UK short-stay visitors must still get passport stamps when entering or exiting the Schengen zone.
This tracks compliance with the 90-days-in-180-days visa-free travel limit imposed on non-EU citizens after Brexit. Failing to get a stamp may cause issues later when re-entering or exiting the zone, so travellers are advised to check.
A Border Guard Is Still Often Needed
Even with Parafe access, British travellers may need to find a border guard after using the e-gate. This extra step ensures passports are properly stamped, helping avoid confusion on return visits within the 180-day limit. \
Many airports have a nearby guard’s desk to speed up the process and avoid full manual passport queues.
Campaigners hope the summit will also push for longer stays for UK citizens with French second homes. Many bought homes pre-Brexit and previously spent up to half the year in France without bureaucratic hurdles.
France’s parliament backed easing rules in 2024, but the proposal was rejected later on a legal technicality.
New EU Entry/Exit System Starts October 2025
From October, the EU will launch the digital Entry/Exit System (EES) to log entries, exits, and time spent in Schengen.
It will end physical passport stamping by using facial recognition, fingerprinting and digital travel recordkeeping for non-EU citizens. UK visitors will need to register their details during initial visits to ensure smooth processing on later trips.
Parafe E-Gates Are Being Upgraded for EES
French airports are adapting Parafe e-gates to work with the EES system and help prevent long queues at border control.
Initial EES registration—fingerprints and a photo—must be done manually before travellers can use fast-track gates again. Later, kiosks at airports and train terminals will allow pre-registration, streamlining future trips for British citizens.
Questions Remain for UK Residents in the EU
It’s still unclear how EES will treat Britons living in EU countries with residency cards who currently use e-gates easily. Will the system exempt them from digital tracking, or will it wrongly flag them as short-stay non-EU visitors?
This uncertainty adds urgency to UK-EU talks to ensure British residents in the EU don’t face new travel issues.