Travelling to Europe? Arrive early to use the new Entry/Exit System

This summer, fuel shortages are on the minds of many holiday goers, who are worried that their flights may be cancelled. However, the EU’s Entry/Exit System is also causing disruptions at the airport. In April, approximately 100 people were left in Milan after a flight to Manchester left without them, reportedly as a result of the new border control checks that resulted in 3 hours queues at the airport.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been making its way into airports since October of last year, and is now completely in operation across all Schengen countries. The Schengen countries are 29 countries in Europe where EU citizens can travel across borders without having to go through routine passport checks. You can check the list of countries that this includes here.

For those travelling to Europe, the EU has ceased using passport stamps. Instead, they’re being replaced with, ‘digital records of entries and exits of non-EU nationals coming for short stays. Travellers’ facial images, fingerprints and personal data from the travel document are also recorded.’

According to the European Union, ‘Since its introduction, more than 52 million entries and exits were registered, with over 27,000 refusals of entry, of which over 700 persons were identified as posing a security risk to Europe.’

Since we left the European Union on January 31st 2020, UK nationals are no longer EU citizens. As such, those travelling to the Schengen area will be expected to use the EES when they arrive in, and depart from the 29 countries within Europe.

For travellers, this is a significant change. Whilst they will still have to go through passport checks as they have done previously, now they will have to use a self service screen to register their name, their fingerprints, their photo and their passport. This is then stored in their system for the next 3 years, or until the passport expires. Once travellers have been registered, they will need to scan their passports and confirm their identity each time they enter and exit one of the participating countries.

For many people, this is the first time they are using the EES, and the first time they are being registered. As such, the process is taking some additional time as both airports and travellers get used to the new system. Those taking returning flights to the UK from the Schengen area should arrive earlier at the airport, to allow more time for any delays.

If you are travelling to the Schengen area for a short stay (up to 90 days within any 180 day period) and you are using a UK passport, you are likely to be required to register your biometric details. There have been a few teething problems over the last few months, with some countries suspending the EES to avoid delays; you can search for your destination to check whether the EES is still in operation.

There are also a number of exceptions where some people do not need to register their biometric details, such as nationals of European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland. Non-EU nations who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national, as well as those who hold residence permits and long-stay visas, will also not be required to provide their biometric data.

There are a number of other exceptions for specific individuals, or those with specific circumstances. You can view the full list of exceptions here.