Final EU plans to take fingerprints and facial biometrics from British travellers to Europe have been revealed. The long-awaited \u201centry-exit system\u201d (EES) will be rolled out over the course of 180 days from 12 October 2025 to 9 April 2026.<\/p>\n
It will connect every frontier in the Schengen area with a central database. The Schengen nations comprise all EU nations except Ireland and Cyprus, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.<\/p>\n
The aims of the EES are:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most modern digital border management system in the world,\u201d according to the European Commission. \u201cAn automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals who are travelling to the EU for a short stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
The system aims to capture data from all \u201cthird-country nationals\u201d when they either enter or leave at an external Schengen border \u2013 such as flying from the UK to Spain or crossing by road from Greece to Turkey. It will not be used at internal frontiers within the Schengen Area.<\/p>\n
EES will register the date and place of entry or exit. The first time a traveller encounters the entry-exit system, they must provide fingerprints and a facial biometric.<\/p>\n
This system, says the European Union, \u201cwill replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which is time-consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings, and does not allow a systematic detection of over-stayers\u201d.<\/p>\n
British travellers, like other third-country nationals, are restricted to 90 days\u2019 stay in any 180 days within the Schengen area. But enforcement of this currently depends on checking passport stamps and is applied haphazardly.<\/p>\n
The new system will not apply in Ireland (or, for the time being, Cyprus). For clarity, the procedure for Irish citizens will not change when entering the Schengen Area.<\/p>\n
As now, they will simply be matched with their passport or passport card (an optional document, price \u20ac35, that can be used across the Schengen area).<\/p>\n
Any UK citizen with the good fortune to have an Irish (or other EU) passport can use that document and skip the queues.<\/p>\n
Because we demanded to become subject to the EES, which was initially being developed while the UK was a member of the EU.<\/p>\n
After the UK voted to leave the European Union, Boris Johnson\u2019s government negotiated for British travellers to become third-country nationals subject to a range of restrictions. British passport holders must currently have their travel documents inspected and stamped. <\/p>\n
The good news about the entry-exit system: passport stamping will eventually end.<\/p>\n
The bad news: \u201cwet-stamping\u201d of documents will continue throughout the roll-out. And the process of fingerprinting and\/or providing a facial biometric is likely to prove slower and more onerous.<\/p>\n
Originally the entry-exit system was due to start in 2021. But the body responsible for implementation \u2013 the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (EU-Lisa) \u2013 has repeatedly pushed back the date because the database was far from ready. <\/p>\n
In August 2024, the EU\u2019s Home Affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, said: \u201cI have decided that the entry\/exit system will enter into operations on 10 November. That will be a great day \u2013 entry-exit system day.\u201d But a month before the big day, ministers decided to postpone the introduction.<\/p>\n
Many airports, ports and railway stations have already installed expensive equipment, which has been lying unused.<\/p>\n
Officials in Brussels have now kicked the can down the road to October 2025 \u2013 with a full roll out not complete until April 2026. This is the current timetable:<\/p>\n
Inbound and outbound passengers will go through the formalities at airports, land borders and ports in the Schengen area on arrival and departure. <\/p>\n
Three locations in the UK have \u201cjuxtaposed\u201d border controls, with French frontier police conducting checks on British soil: at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel\u2019s Folkestone terminal and the Eurostar hub at London St Pancras.<\/p>\n
There is a big difference between the first time you cross a Schengen area frontier where entry-exit system is in operation and subsequent entries and exits.<\/p>\n
On the first registration, travellers must submit to fingerprint checks and provide a facial biometric. On subsequent visits within three years, only a facial biometric will be taken.<\/p>\n
Each new visit triggers another three years of validity of the initial registration. In other words, if you don\u2019t cross a Schengen area frontier for three years, you will need to register again.<\/p>\n
Some EU members have expressed alarm at the extra time involved in the new processes, with the Slovenian government warning: \u201cIt takes up to four times longer to do the new process.\u201d<\/p>\n
In January 2024, MPs were warned that Brits travelling to Europe could face waits of 14 hours or more at border control unless measures are introduced to prevent delays. Parliament\u2019s European Scrutiny Committee was told by Ashford Borough Council that 14-hour queues were a \u201creasonable worst case\u201d scenario if the scheme were to be implemented as planned in October.<\/p>\n
But the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar have invested heavily and now believe they can handle outbound passengers without due delay.<\/p>\n
In addition, it appears that biometric registration could initially be reduced to just one in 10 travellers if queues build up.<\/p>\n
Local immigration officials will decide the appropriate number of travellers required to register their biometrics, on a range from 10 to 100 per cent as a \u201crelief valve\u201d as the process is first introduced.<\/p>\n
It is feasible that some frontier posts will be running the entry-exit system from day one for both arriving and departing travellers. In such a case, you could be called upon to have your fingerprints and facial biometrics taken before travelling home. But I think it highly unlikely: the main focus will be on arrivals, not departures. <\/p>\n
As EES rolls out, it might be that you are called upon to register when leaving rather than arriving. For example, you might fly out to Lisbon before it adopts the entry-exit system but find that on return from Porto the airport is already operating the EES. Registering your details on departure from the Schengen area could prove useful for your next trip to Europe \u2013 because your biometrics will already be known, therefore accelerating the process<\/p>\n
The key point to understand is that you will not need to prepare anything ahead of time; just do what you are told at the airport. It will be another year before you have to enrol for an Etias \u201ceuro visa\u201d ahead of a trip.<\/p>\n
Not according to the official Procedures for entering data in the EES<\/em>. It says that if \u201cthe third-country national presents a valid travel document which differs from the one that was previously recorded\u201d (ie a new passport), the individual\u2019s online file will be updated with the fresh details.<\/p>\n It depends on your routing and final destination, and also on the way you have booked the travel. You will not need to go through the entry-exit system if the answers to the following are both affirmative:<\/p>\n But you will need to go through EES if any of the following applies:<\/p>\n They will breeze through the frontier via special lanes where the only check will be a glance at their passport to check (a) it\u2019s valid and (b) it\u2019s their\u2019s. So, as it used to be for British passport holders before Brexit.<\/p>\n No. The introduction of EES does not change the existing entry conditions. Third-country nationals must justify the purpose of the intended stay (for example tourism, business or a family visit) and demonstrate sufficient means of subsistence for both their stay and their return to their country of origin \u2013 or onward travel to a third country where they are sure to be admitted.<\/p>\n The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) is the next step in tightening frontier controls. It is an online permit, price \u20ac20 (\u00a317), for third-country nationals who do not require visas. It is similar to the US Esta scheme, but valid for longer: three years. While those under 18 or over 70 will still need to apply for and hold an Etias, it will be free.<\/p>\n In order to work, Etias requires EES to be fully operational. Once the entry-exit system is completed and is running smoothly, Etias is set to follow six months later.<\/p>\n But initially a six-month grace period will be granted \u2013 so it will not be mandatory for prospective UK visitors to apply online for permission to enter the Schengen Area for at least a year after the complete introduction of EES, ie not before 9 April 2027.<\/p>\n Officially, no. Europe says that Etias is \u201ca pre-travel authorisation system\u201d. It is a similar concept to the US Esta, the Canadian eTA and the British ETA, which are not technically visas. They are issued to international travellers who do not require a full visa.<\/p>\n But as Etias requires visitors to apply in advance, provide lots of personal information, pay money and be issued with a permit to cross a border, it is not surprising that it is commonly termed a \u201ceuro-visa\u201d.<\/p>\n When finally the EU is ready, at the heart of the system is an Etias app and website. <\/p>\n You must provide all the usual personal details: name, date and place of birth, gender, home and email addresses, phone number(s), passport number and expiry date.<\/p>\n In addition you must give:<\/p>\n (On the last point, the European Union helpfully points out that you are not bound to stick to that nominated location: \u201cOnce you have your travel authorisation in hand, you can change your plans.\u201d)<\/p>\n You are required to reveal:<\/p>\n Nothing will change from 12 October 2025. The EES is nothing more than the long-overdue digitisation of frontiers of the Schengen area, and personal background is not relevant. But in October 2026, if all goes according to plan, one\u2019s history becomes of interest with the introduction of Etias.<\/p>\n It will be incumbent on the prospective visitor to answer truthfully on \u201cdetails about any past criminal convictions\u201d. But every indication is that only serious crimes (which I infer as those with a substantial prison sentence attached) and terrorist offences could result in an application for Etias being rejected.<\/p>\n Every Etias application will be checked against EU and relevant Interpol databases, as well as \u201ca dedicated Etias watch-list\u201d. <\/p>\n The system will be tuned to pick out individuals suspected of being involved in terrorism, armed robbery, child pornography, fraud, money laundering, cybercrime, people smuggling, trafficking in endangered animal species, counterfeiting and industrial espionage.<\/p>\n Yes, As with other online travel permits, commercial intermediaries are allowed \u2013 but according to Frontex, the EU organisation implementing Etias, there are many scam sites out there that are likely to apply fees way above the basic \u20ac20.<\/p>\n Any site other than europa.eu\/etias is unofficial and should not be trusted.<\/p>\n One \u201cimposter\u201d site claims to have processed 671 applications already; this is impossible since no applications have been processed anywhere.<\/p>\n Another site offers a 40 per cent discount for early applications. Some use the EU logo, which is illegal.<\/p>\n Frontex also warns about the risk of identity theft if personal information is provided to imposter sites.<\/p>\n The European Union says: \u201cWe strongly advise you to obtain the Etias travel authorisation before you buy your tickets and book your hotels.\u201d<\/p>\n The aim is for an Etias to be granted within minutes, though even a straightforward application could take up to four days.<\/p>\n If an application is flagged (ie there is a \u201chit\u201d with one of the databases) the applicant may be asked to provide additional information. Alternatively, says the EU, the applicant may be asked \u201cto participate in an interview with national authorities, which may take up to additional 30 days\u201d.<\/p>\n Assuming yours is granted, there is no certificate issued, and nothing needs to be printed. The frontier guard will get the information he or she needs from the passport you used to apply.<\/p>\n Yes. Details of how to appeal will be included with the notice of rejection.<\/p>\n No. \u201cMere possession of a travel authorisation does not confer an automatic right of entry,\u201d says the EU. As with the US, travellers can be turned away for any reason.<\/p>\n There is likely to be a mechanism in place for an Etias to be rescinded.<\/p>\n No. The permit will be valid for three years, or until your passport runs out, whichever is the earlier.<\/p>\n No. The Common Travel Area incorporating the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands transcends European Union rules, and in any event, Ireland is not in the Schengen area.<\/p>\n No.<\/p>\n They will be expected to get a friend, a family member or a travel agent to make the application for them, in the same way as the US Esta and similar schemes.<\/p>\n This rule, to which the UK asked to be subject after leaving the European Union, means that British travellers cannot stay more than 90 days in any stretch of 180 days.<\/p>\n As an example of what it means: were you to spend the first three months of 2026 in the Schengen area, you would have to leave on 31 March and could not return until 90 days later, ie 30 June.<\/p>\n No. Work on strengthening the European Union\u2019s external border began a decade ago. British officials participated in initial planning for the entry-exit system and online registration for third-country nationals.<\/p>\n The UK asked to be subject to all the extra red tape that everyone already knew was on the horizon. The EU agreed. So Brussels is delivering exactly what the British asked for.<\/p>\n No. Were the UK still in the EU, neither EES nor Etias would affect British passport holders.<\/p>\n Citizens of Ireland, which is in the EU but outside Schengen, need not go through the entry-exit rigmarole nor get an Etias. They simply have their passport\/ID checked on arrival and departure, usually via a fast-track line.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what the UK chose to give up.<\/p>\n Additional research by Dr Nick Brown<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Final EU plans to take fingerprints and facial biometrics from British travellers to Europe have been revealed. The long-awaited \u201centry-exit system\u201d (EES) will be rolled out over the course of 180 days from 12 October 2025 to 9 April 2026.I am only changing planes at an EU airport. Must I go through the entry-exit system?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
What happens to EU travellers when EES starts?<\/h2>\n
Must I provide proof of travel insurance?<\/h2>\n
What is \u2018Etias\u2019 and when does it start?<\/h2>\n
Is Etias a visa?<\/h2>\n
How will I apply?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
I have a criminal conviction from long ago. Will I face problems?<\/h2>\n
What happens to the information?<\/h2>\n
Is Etias going to be the next online scam?<\/h2>\n
How far in advance must I apply?<\/h2>\n
In a case of mistaken identity, will I be able to appeal?<\/h2>\n
Once I have an Etias, am I guaranteed admission to the Schengen Area?<\/h2>\n
Do I need to apply for an Etias every time I travel to Europe?<\/h2>\n
Will I need an Etias to travel to Ireland?<\/h2>\n
If I have a long-stay permit from one of the EU nations, must I obtain an Etias?<\/h2>\n
How are people without internet access supposed to apply?<\/h2>\n
Just remind me about the 90\/180 day rule?<\/h2>\n
Is the UK being punished because of Brexit?<\/h2>\n
Had we remained in the EU but outside Schengen, would we still be subject to all the new red tape?<\/h2>\n
\nIt will connect every frontier in the Schengen area with a central database. The Schengen nations comprise all EU nations except Ireland and Cyprus, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
\nThe aims of the EES are:
\nTo identify suspected criminals.To combat identity fraud.To police the limit on stays of 90 days in any 180 days that applies to UK and other nationalities.What is the \u201centry-exit system\u201d?\u201cThe most modern digital border management system in the world,\u201d according to the European Commission. \u201cAn automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals who are travelling to the EU for a short stay.\u201d
\nThe system aims to capture data from all \u201cthird-country nationals\u201d when they either enter or leave at an external Schengen border \u2013 such ..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14656\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skybeaconnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}