Less than three weeks until the repeatedly-delayed launch of Europe’s Entry/Exit System (EES) , Eurostar’s 49 self-service data processing kiosks are installed and waiting for passengers.

EES will soft launch from 12 October, with member states within Europe’s Schengen Area permitted until 10 April 2026 to complete the roll out.

A Eurostar spokesperson confirmed that there will also be a permitted “firebreak” of 90 days to pause or pull back on EES checks if delays become unmanageable. This means that the rollout could be completed as late as July 2026.

While the checks are designed to strengthen the Schengen Area border in Europe, the UK has three juxtaposed Police aux Frontières French border controls at Eurostar’s St Pancras terminus, as well as at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone

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