British travellers face more post-Brexit uncertainty for trips to the Continent after another delay to new EU border rules.
The Entry/Exit system (EES) was due to begin on 10 November, despite many of the details of its implementation remaining unclear. Its launch, which was first pencilled in for 2022, has now been postponed several times.
“It’s clear that we’re not going to be ready for the 10 November,” said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson last week.
Germany, France and the Netherlands told the EU that their systems would not be up and running in time.
Ms Johansson said there wasn’t a new timetable for the implementation of EES and that the EU was planning a phased approach.
Kevin Mills, of Dover District Council, told the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee that if EES had begun on the proposed date, it would have been “complete and utter carnage”.
He explained that none of the infrastructure or IT is ready.
Preparations were further along at the Folkestone terminal of Eurotunnel and at St Pancras International Station.
The boss of Getlink, which owns Eurotunnel, said the millions of pounds spent to adapt its terminals for EES would “inevitably be passed onto passengers”.
What is EES?
The EES border system will replace manual stamping of passports for third-country travellers on entry and exit from EU countries.
Passport stamps are used to check that third-country travellers do not stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days in any 180-day period. Britons have been subject to the 90/180 day rule since the end of the Brexit transition period.
EES will require third-country travellers, which includes UK passport holders, to register biometric details such as fingerprints and photographs of their face the first time they enter the EU. The data will be taken on a traveller’s first visit to the EU after EES launches, then again after three years.
Initially, EU communications suggested that both fingerprints and facial images would be required from each passenger. However, an advice page on the EU website, dated 10 October 2024, states that “passport control officers will scan your fingerprints or take a photo of your face”.
EES will not apply for travel to Ireland or Cyprus.
What does EES mean for travel from UK ports?
In the UK, checks for travel to the EU will be carried out at British ports where French border control is stationed, including St Pancras, Dover and Folkestone. The new system will add to the time taken to process each passenger.
These ports have been preparing for the change. St Pancras has set aside three areas for EES kiosks and about €10m has been spent on improving check-in systems. Most of the investment has come from Eurostar, but HS1, which owns the station, has also contributed.
John Keefe, corporate and public affairs chief for GetLink group, said his firm had spent €80m on infrastructure, technology and staff recruitment in preparation for EES at Folkestone.
“All of that will have to be put into hibernation. So that’s a cost that we will have to carry because of this,” Mr Keefe told a parliamentary committee.
“A cost like this inevitably is passed on to the consumer.”
There has also been discussion of technology, such as an app, that would allow travellers to submit their biometric details for EES. The EU guidance states that the process could be quicker if passengers register some of their data in advance, which could be via “a mobile application – if made available by the country of arrival or departure.”
What is the EU visa waiver?
The next major change for travel to the EU will be the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) visa waiver. Similar to the US Esta, it will require visa-exempt passengers who do not hold a passport for an EU country – or for Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland – to apply for an Etias ahead of travel to any of 30 European countries.
Passengers will need confirmation that their application has been processed before they can travel. Most applications are expected to be processed in minutes. There will be an email confirming the application, followed by another email stating the outcome. The Etias will be valid for three years, or until the travel document used in an application expires – whichever comes first.
Etias will be required for all third-country travellers who don’t need a visa. It will cost €7, although applicants under 18 or over 70 will be exempt from the fee.