British travellers heading to Europe have been warned they could be sent straight back home if they refuse to provide their fingerprints on arrival – or refuse to allow their child’s photo to be stored on an EU database, under new rules coming into force on Sunday (October 12). Visitors to most European countries will be forced to provide biometric data including fingerprints and photograph under a new EU entry-exit system (EES). Children under 12 will not be fingerprinted but all travellers, including babies, will be photographed with digital records stored on an EU-wide Biometric Matching Service.
The Home Office has issued a blunt warning that British travellers failing to comply could be denied entry. The system begins at some airports this weekend and is due to come into force across most of Europe by April. But airport owners have warned that only “partial” tests of the computer system have been carried out in advance and too little has been done to inform passengers about the new rules.
Airports Council International Europe, which represents more than 600 airports in 55 countries, has told governments it is worried about “persistent understaffing of border police in certain Member States”.
Most checks will be carried out on the Continent, but UK travellers using the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International will be processed in the UK.
However, only foot and coach passengers will initially use the new system at Dover, due to what port authorities call “some outstanding technology challenges”, with those travelling by car set to be included in November.
Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister said: “It is our intention that we will be going live for coaches on Sunday. As has been emphasised by the EU, this will be a very gradual and phased implementation.”
The new rules will be a requirement when entering Schengen area countries including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. They will not apply when travelling to Ireland and Cyprus. It is designed to to replace passport stamping for all non-EU citizens, helping participating countries to track compliance with the 90-day visa-free travel rule and strengthen their border controls.
British citizens covered by Withdrawal Agreement residence documents and UK-EU dual citizens using their EU passports will be exempt from the new requirements.
As part of the new scheme, visitors coming in to the EU will face questioning from border officials, who will ask for reassurance that they have travel insurance, a place to stay and sufficient funds.
