The Times 9 August 2024
NOTE - ETIAS [online visa] probably to launch 2025 - keeps on being delayed
EES - if you have biometric residency in Cyprus, you will not need to provide your fingerprints and can use your biometric card.
The EU will be launching a new automated IT system to track border crossings by visitors from certain countries, including the UK. Known as the Entry/Exit System (EES), it’s meant to make entering and leaving EU countries much quicker and easier by replacing the more time consuming manual checks. It’s separate from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) — there’s no need to apply for anything or pay a fee — but it will be used in conjunction with it in future. Ahead of its launch, which is expected to be November 17, 2024, here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EES is an automated IT system designed to track travellers from third countries, such as the UK, entering and leaving EU member states.
Since Brexit, UK passport holders are only permitted to stay in EU countries for a cumulative total of 90 days in a 180-day period without a visa or other permit. The EES will tally up this number each time a passport is used at a border crossing and detect those who have exceeded their allowance; a refusal of entry is also detected.
To make this possible, the system will distinguish between short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt visitors through their travel document, collating information such as name, type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprint and photographs) and the date and place of entry and exit. It will also work in conjunction with the Etias (the visa waiver required to travel to Europe) in future.
When will EES start?
The launch date is understood to be November 17, although it could be pushed back by a week if airports are not ready to deal with the extra controls.
Where is the EES required?
The EES will be in place for 25 of the 27 EU member states — Ireland and Cyprus will continue with manual checks — as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein, as they’re part of the border-free Schengen Area. Where EES is in place, you’ll just need to scan your passport at the automated gates, as you would when entering the UK.
However, the first time you use the EES, you will be required to supply your fingerprint and have your photo taken at the crossing. This will then be kept on file for three years, so you won’t need to do this extra step each time. If you refuse to supply this information, you’ll be denied entry.
Within the UK, EES gates will also be installed at the Port of Dover, and Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals where passports are checked prior to travel.
What does EES mean for my travel?
In theory, it should speed things up at border crossings and make entry into and exit from EU countries much easier. For regular travellers, it should also mean more space in their passports as it won’t be stamped each time they make a border crossing. However, initially, there could be extra delays as passengers using the EES for the first time will need to supply fingerprints and have their photo taken.
Where might the worst delays be when EES launches?
The border checks at Port of Dover, and Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals have the biggest potential for delays — an issue raised by operators based at these locations, based on the time it takes to process cars. The chief executive of the Port of Dover has warned that it could take up to ten minutes to process one car when the measures are implemented.
Eurostar is trying to mitigate delays with a big expansion of its check in space. At London St Pancras, there will be 49 kiosks (up from 24), 18 manual checking booths (up from nine), and 11 new generation e-gates (up from eight). Meanwhile at Paris Gare du Nord, there will be 18 kiosks and 11 e-gates, and Brussels Midi will have ten e-gates and eight manual check positions. It’s also adding additional staff to help speed up the process, including specially trained staff to help with the EES registration and a doubling of border control officials.
Once introduced, the EES shouldn’t be any more arduous than the passport checks that currently exist.
The new check in process for Eurostar
Once the EES launches, passengers will need to check in via the kiosks first. You will need to register your passport, have your photo taken and fingerprint scanned, and ask four security questions. On subsequent visits, you just need to go to the kiosk for facial recognition and to answer those four questions.
Then you need to go to the Eurostar area around 45 to 60 minutes before departures to get your tickets checked and go through security as usual. For the Eurostar, the exit check and entry check counters are both at the departure station so once you get to the other side, no additional checks are needed.
There may be some delays when everyone is having their details registered on the EES for the first time but after that there shouldn’t be additional delays.
