Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Travellers Going To Spain, Italy, And Greece Warned Over Two New UK Airport Rules

If you're planning a European jaunt this year, brace yourself for potential delays as a new border control system is set to kick in, possibly extending your travel time.

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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