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Travelers journeying from the UK to Europe can anticipate forthcoming changes to border procedures.
The European Union’s long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border management system, is scheduled for phased implementation this autumn, commencing this Sunday.
Designed to enhance security and streamline travel in the long term, the EES has raised concerns regarding potential delays during initial registration.
The EES is a digital platform designed to record the entry and exit of non-EU citizens within the Schengen Area.
This encompasses 29 European nations, predominantly within the EU, which facilitate border control-free travel.
Popular destinations for UK travelers, including France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece, are included in this zone.
The new system mandates the registration of fingerprints and a photograph.
The EES will ultimately replace the current process of passport stamping by border officials.
Following several postponements, the European Commission affirmed in July that the EES would commence on October 12.
Its implementation will occur in stages over a six-month period.
Consequently, the initial encounter with the EES will depend on the destination and timing of travel.
At Dover, ferry passengers traveling by coach will begin utilizing the new system on October 12, followed by other tourist traffic on November 1.
At Eurostar terminals, a limited number of business travelers will be invited to participate from October 12, with a gradual expansion to more passengers in the ensuing months.
Eurotunnel, which operates vehicle shuttles through the Channel Tunnel, will also introduce the EES in phases starting October 12.
Initially, only Eurotunnel’s coach passengers and freight will undergo the new checks, administered by a border officer, resulting in minimal immediate changes.
Tourists traveling by car will commence utilizing automated kiosks by the end of the year, with a specific date yet to be announced.
The EES will also be gradually integrated into European airports. The timing of the first encounter will depend on the destination and timing of travel; travelers are advised to monitor communications from their respective airlines.
The EES is slated to be operational at all Schengen border crossing points across the 29 participating countries by April 10, 2026.
Upon initial use of the new system, citizens from most non-EU countries, including the UK, will be required to register biometric data while having their passports scanned.
This process may be conducted with a border officer or at an automated machine, contingent on the point of entry.
Air passengers will register upon arrival at their destination airport.
However, registration will occur upon departure from the UK for those crossing the English Channel via ferry from the port of Dover, utilizing the Eurotunnel shuttle to France, or traveling by Eurostar train.
At these locations, most passengers will be directed to follow instructions at designated kiosks.
The kiosks will scan passports and capture fingerprints and a photograph.
Fingerprint collection will not be required for children under 12. Staff will be available to provide assistance.
Travelers will also be presented with four questions regarding their trip, such as confirmation of accommodation and sufficient funds.
However, at Eurotunnel, these questions will be posed by border officers on a discretionary basis.
The port of Dover has undergone significant modifications, including land reclamation from the sea to establish an additional processing area.
Travelers will proceed to this new area, located a mile from the ferry terminal, to complete their EES checks.
Due to the relocation of the French border to a coach processing building within this new area, coaches will be sealed after passengers complete their checks, prior to proceeding to the ferry.
The port authority has indicated that groups of schoolchildren will be able to complete a portion of their registration in advance, requiring only passport presentation at the border.
Eurostar has installed 49 EES kiosks in three areas within its London St Pancras terminal. Passengers will utilize these kiosks prior to presenting their tickets in the departures area.
However, all passports will continue to be stamped manually until the full implementation of the EES in 2026.
Eurotunnel has installed over one hundred kiosks on each side of the Channel.
Customers traveling by car will be directed to drive up to a kiosk displaying their registration number and provide their biometric data. Coach passengers will complete the process with a border officer.
A mobile phone application has been developed to enable passengers to complete a portion of the process prior to arriving at the border. However, its widespread adoption will not occur during the initial implementation of the EES.
The EES registration will be valid for three years, with details verified on each subsequent trip within that timeframe.
Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for increased processing times to lead to significant queues, particularly at Dover, where space is limited.
However, authorities at cross-Channel travel hubs anticipate that the phased implementation of the EES, rather than a “big bang” launch, will mitigate the risk of disruptions.
Eurotunnel chief executive Yann Leriche anticipates no “chaos” or queues at the Channel tunnel, asserting that the company has conducted extensive modeling and is fully prepared.
Similarly, Eurostar anticipates that limiting initial EES usage to select business travelers will help prevent queues.
The EU is also introducing the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a visa waiver system linked to passports that will build upon the EES.
Citizens of non-EU countries who are not required to obtain a visa to enter the EU, including individuals from the UK, will be able to apply online for authorization prior to travel.
The implementation of ETIAS is not scheduled until the end of 2026, with the final date yet to be confirmed.
The application fee will be €20 (£17.47) and the authorization will be valid for three years.
Individuals under 18 and over 70 will be required to apply, but will be exempt from the fee.
Port of Dover authorities maintain that the new system will not cause delays on its initial day of operation.
Port authorities assert their readiness for the phased implementation of the new Entry/Exit System commencing this Sunday.
The Waverley’s final Kent excursion of the season is scheduled for Sunday, prior to its return to Scotland.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has incorrectly stated that Northern Ireland “voted to leave” the European Union.
In a BBC NI interview, the Tory leader asserted that “the last time I checked, Northern Ireland did vote to leave”.
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