What to do if…
you are asked for biometric information at a border or for travel and feel unprepared

What to do now

1. Work out what kind of biometric request this is.

   • At a border, airport, port, rail terminal, or ferry terminal, ask: “Which authority is collecting this, and is it required for entry today?”
   • At a visa application centre, ask which country the enrolment is for and what appointment notice, passport, or identity document they need to see.
   • In an email, text, call, or social media message before travel, treat the request as unverified until you have checked it on an official government or embassy source.

2. Ask for the minimum clear facts and write them down.

   • What is being collected: fingerprints, a photo, a face scan, or something else?
   • What is it for: entry, visa enrolment, residence permission, or identity verification?
   • Is it required now, and what happens if you cannot complete it today?
   • Is there a fee, and if so, where is the official fee shown?

3. If this involves Schengen travel, check whether it sounds like EES.

   • UK passport holders travelling for a short stay to the Schengen area may be asked to register biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo.
   • On your first visit to the Schengen area after EES started, you may be asked to create a digital record at the port or airport on arrival.
   • If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle at Folkestone, or Eurostar at St Pancras International, any EES checks are completed at the border before you leave the UK.
   • There is no cost for EES registration, and you do not need to pay a third party or provide information through an unofficial link before travel.

4. Verify the request using official sources, not just links you were sent.

   • Check GOV.UK foreign travel advice for your destination and look at the entry requirements section.
   • If it is a visa or permit enrolment, check the destination country’s official government, embassy, or consulate site by typing the address yourself or starting from a trusted official page.
   • If the request came from a message that pressures you to act immediately, asks for secrecy, asks for unusual payment, or asks for confidential information, stop and verify before sharing anything.
   • If the message, website, or call looks suspicious, use NCSC guidance on phishing and suspicious messages rather than replying to the sender.

5. If you are at the border and feel overwhelmed, ask for a safer pause.

   • Say: “I am not refusing. I am not prepared and I need clarification, an interpreter, or a moment to check my documents.”
   • Ask whether you can step aside to a waiting area while you read the instructions, gather documents, or contact your airline, ferry operator, rail operator, or travel organiser.
   • Keep your passport, ticket, visa, booking confirmation, and appointment notice together and visible.

6. If you cannot comply right now, ask for realistic next options.

   • Ask whether you can wait, use the correct kiosk or desk, attend a proper enrolment point, rebook, or return with the required paperwork.
   • If you are told you may be refused entry, ask what record they can provide, if any.
   • If no paperwork is provided, note the time, location, authority, staff name or badge number if visible, and the reason you were given.

7. Protect your identity and accounts.

   • Only provide biometric information at an official border point, official visa application centre, or clearly verified official route.
   • If you used a suspicious link, change the password on the email account connected to your travel documents.
   • If you paid a suspicious third party, contact your bank or card provider promptly and keep receipts, messages, and screenshots.

8. If you are detained, threatened, or cannot safely leave the immigration area, ask for consular help.

   • Ask to contact the nearest British embassy, high commission, consulate, or FCDO consular support.
   • Consular staff may be able to help you understand local processes, contact family, or raise welfare concerns.
   • They cannot force another country to admit you, stop deportation, or give legal advice.