The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to be introduced in 2025 after being delayed but the new digital system is set to cause some issues for travellers — here’s everything you need to know
Fears of delays are growing amongst travellers as the introduction of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System approaches.
The new EES is an automated IT system for registering travellers from third-countries, both short stay visa holders and visa exempt travellers each time they cross an EU external border and will be introduced in 2025.
The new system will replace the manual method of stamping passports, “which is time consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings and does not allow a systematic detection of over-stayers”, according to the European Commission’s website.
For Brits, this will mean that those travelling to a country in the Schengen area using a UK passport, will need to register their biometric details, such as fingerprints or a photo, when they first arrive.
The authorisation process will also cost travellers €7 (£5.77).
How will the system work?
EES will collect your identity details, fingerprints, facial images and travel documentation. It will then record the date and place of entry and exit, your stays which can be up to 90 days in any 180 day period and any entry refusals you have had. The system will replace stamp in your passport.
It will apply to all non-EU nationals, visa-required and visa-exempt travellers in the Schengen area.
Your data will be used by member state authorities, such as border guards and consular officers dealing with visas. Additional access to the data held in the EES will be available to law enforcement authorities in member states and Europol, for criminal identification and criminal intelligence.
When crossing the border, you will head to a self-service kiosk which will check your details, identity, fingerprints and documents against the security databases, and then see a border guard.
Any travellers’ digital record will be valid for three years, so during this time, those that enter the Schengen area again will only need to provide their fingerprints and a photo at the border, when they enter and exit.
Why is the system being changed?
The European Commission has proposed the EES to contribute to the modernisation of the external border management by improving the quality of the external border controls of the Schengen Area, reinforce internal security and the fight against terrorism and serious crime, systematically identify over-stayers, and help member states to deal with the increasing number of travellers to the EU without having to increase the number of border guards.
What is the expected outcome?
The hope is that EES will provide information in a rapid and automated way to border guards during border checks, including refusals of entry of non-EU nationals and enable refusals of entry to be checked electronically in the EES, give more precise guidance to travellers on the maximum length of their authorised stay, specific details of who is overstaying their authorised stay and evidence-based support to visa policy.
For law enforcement, EES aims to support the identification of terrorists, criminals, suspects and also victims of crime. It will also provide a record of travel histories of non-EU nationals, including crime suspects, perpetrators or victims of crime.
What will EES look like in the UK?
Once introduced, Brits will need to provide their information, including facial images and fingerprints, when they first enter a Schengen area country. This will cost €7 (£5.77) and the subsequent times over the following three years you enter countries in the Schengen area you will need to provide your fingerprints and a photo at the border, when you enter and exit.
The UK Government is supporting ports and carriers to ensure that EES registration will be simple for anyone travelling to the Schengen area. This includes providing £3.5 million each to Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover.
Eurostar expects that EES registration will be quick and easy, and is expecting to have 50 kiosks across three locations for people to carry out the checks.
Eurotunnel will have over 100 kiosks and estimates that EES checks will only add just over five minutes to journey times. The Port of Dover is planning to have 24 kiosks for coach passengers, and will register passengers in cars using agents and tablets.
Other important things to know
From January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania will become full Schengen area members, which means internal border controls will be removed.
In addition, many destinations are planning to introduce or increase their tourist taxes in 2025, including Madeira and Evora in Portugal, Venice in Italy and Greece.
