UK travellers heading across the EU may be subject to a new system starting today. Airports throughout Europe are implementing the new Entry and Exit System (EES) digital scheme from today (October 12).
This means that most non-EU citizens will need to register their biometric data in one of the 29 participating countries, which include popular holiday destinations such as Spain and Greece. Some UK travellers will need to have their faces photographed and fingerprints scanned before they can enter Europe’s Schengen area.
As the scheme is gradually implemented, travellers will soon no longer need to have their passports stamped due to the new system. The aim of this introduction is to make border crossings quicker and more efficient.
However, as the scheme is still in its infancy, many holidaymakers have been warned that they could face airport delays of up to four hours. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, advised: “Make sure, where possible, you’re leaving yourself between three and four hours from the point of entry.
“You may be going for a concert, you may be going for a meeting, you may be going for a wedding, for a cruise. If you’re not leaving yourself enough time and you unfortunately arrive at an airport where there is a bottleneck, which in a lot of places there are already, this is going to add another layer of frustration and delay.”
People who do not have to register on EES
However, some travellers may not need to register their biometric data on the new system. According to the EU website, you do not need to use the system if the following apply:
- You are a non-EU national who holds a residence card or permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel through Europe like an EU citizen
- People exempt from border checks dueto certain privileges e.g. a head of state
- You are a non-EU national who holds a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national
- You hold a residence permit or long-stay visa
- You are a non-EU national travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer for the purpose of research, studies, training, pupil exchange, voluntary services, educational projects, or au-pairing
- You are a national of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and hold a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See
- You are a diplomat on a short stay (under certain conditions)
- You are a national of a European country using EES, such as Cyprus and Ireland