The much-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) will be gradually rolled out across 29 European countries in the Schengen area across the next six months
UK holidaymakers are bracing for extended queues at European borders as fresh regulations kick in on October 12.
The long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) will be phased in across 29 European nations within the Schengen zone over the coming six months. The new system means British tourists must provide fingerprints and photographs when first entering or exiting the Schengen area. This creates a digital profile lasting three years.
Alongside the fresh EES procedures, Brits will still get their passports stamped, though this will eventually be phased out once EES becomes fully established.
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The European Union expects the EES to be “fully operational” by April 10 2026. Yet British travellers should prepare for lengthier border delays starting October 12, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Travel expert Simon Calder recently outlined the new regulations in The Independent, cautioning Brits about an ‘additional obstacle’ at EU frontiers. Though he pointed out that certain UK passengers hold a ‘superpower’ document that allows them to bypass border queues.
He noted that Britons holding an Irish passport should present this when journeying to Europe. In response to a query about which passports dual British-EU citizens should utilise, he advised: “If you have the wisdom and fortune to have an Irish passport, use that at all times.”
“It has a superpower no other document has: unfettered access to both the UK and the European Union, with no need to get an online permit in advance,” Simon continued.
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The Irish government’s website states that if you or one of your parents were born on the island of Ireland before 2005, you can apply for an Irish passport without needing to apply for citizenship.
If you, or your parents, were born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005, your right to Irish citizenship depends on:
- the parents’ citizenship at the time of the birth
- the residency history of one of the parents before the birth
You can also apply for Irish citizenship by descent if your grandparent was born on the island of Ireland. Citizenship can also be acquired through naturalisation, which requires you to meet certain criteria such as legally living in Ireland for five years or being married or in a civil partnership with an Irish citizen.
According to the Irish government, a record-breaking 1,080,000 Irish passports were issued in 2022. The number of first-time passport applications from Northern Ireland and Great Britain was 100,000 out of over 1.15 million total applications received that year.
Calder, speaking about passport holders from other EU countries, advised: “For all other EU passports, register with the European document outbound (and show it when you arrive). Coming back, register the British document (and show it when you arrive).”