TUI has issued a warning about a change that could leave you queuing at border control for longer. This will be down to the Entry/Exit System (EES), which the European Union (EU) will be implementing from next month. This is a new digital border system that will change requirements for British nationals travelling to the Schengen area. EU residents can travel between countries in this area, which includes Spain, France and Italy, without showing their passport. Now that the UK has left the EU, those travelling to one of these countries using a UK passport will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints or a photo, when you arrive. EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU. The EU intends to implement the EES from next month, although an exact date has not been confirmed.
TUI outlined how the new system will affect UK holidaymakers in an update on its website. It has advised that customers may have to face a longer wait when they arrive at their destination. The update said: “When the EES is operational it’s planned that all entry and exit movements will be registered electronically. “Before you travel, there’s nothing different you need to do, the Advanced Passenger Information (API) form you already complete will be used by the airline to send your details. If you choose to check-in at the airport your information will be sent to the EU during the check-in process. “Upon arrival at your destination, the first time you use it might take a bit longer than usual to pass through border control as your biometric data (face image and four fingerprints) will be collected. Children under 12 years old will not have their fingerprints collected. On the day of travel, in case there are any delays, you may wish to take along extra water to make your airport journey more comfortable.”
The EES is designed to improve border security within the EU and its neighbouring countries, and reduce illegal migration in the Schengen area. It will automate border control checks to help the EU stop visitors overstaying. The UK government says it has been working closely with the European Commission, member states, local authorities and the travel industry to prepare ports for EES. The government is supporting ports and carriers to ensure EES registration is simple for people travelling to the Schengen area.
UK government support includes providing Eurostar, Eurotunnel and Port of Dover with £3.5m each, to spend on registration kiosks and infrastructure. Eurostar expects EES registration to be quick and easy. It will have 50 kiosks across three locations at stations for people to carry out the checks. Eurotunnel will have over 100 kiosks and estimate EES checks will add just over five minutes to journey times. The port of Dover will have 24 kiosks for coach passengers and will register passengers in cars using agents and tablets to make the process as straightforward as possible. You can find out more by visiting the EU EES website and the UK government website.
The Schengen area includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
It is important for UK travelers to be aware of these changes and prepare accordingly to avoid any delays or inconvenience during their travels to the Schengen area. Make sure to stay informed about the EES implementation and follow the guidelines provided by TUI and the UK government to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey.