Come November, travellers will need to factor in extra time to get their biometric details scanned with face and fingerprint recognition becoming the norm at all borders.
The Entry Exit System (EES) is expected to go live across the EU sometime in November, though the exact date remains up in the air.
Just last week, it was revealed that a hefty £10.5 million funding pot will be allocated to ensure the Port of Dover, Folkestone's Eurotunnel, and London's St Pancras Eurostar station are ready for the change, aiming to smooth over any hiccups caused by the tech upgrade.
In a fresh alert, the UK Foreign Office has cautioned that the EES will necessitate all non-EU citizens to digitally record and register their biometric data upon entering the Schengen zone, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The latest update states: "From November 2024, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals, including British nationals, travelling in or out of the Schengen area.
"You will need to have your fingerprints and your photo taken when entering the Schengen area. If you enter the Schengen area through Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, your fingerprints and photo will be taken before you leave the UK. You will also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo on exit.
"You may experience longer queues at borders when the new system starts."
European countries using the EES
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
Switzerland
In Cyprus and Ireland, passports will continue to be stamped manually.
By https://www.mirror.co.uk/authors/vita-molyneux/
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