New System for EU/European Travel that Will Affect UK Nationals – Explaining the Entry/Exit System (EES)
A new system will soon be put into place and will affect UK nationals who plan on travelling to countries in the EU and Europe. If you’re planning on travelling abroad, including driving to the EU in your motorhome or campervan, here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the new Entry/Exit System (EES).
What is the EES and when is it coming into practice?
Set to be implemented in November 2024, the EES is a new border check system for non-Schengen zone nationals (this includes UK citizens) who are entering and exiting the Schengen area.
The new border check system
The EES system is to replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU. For this new system, every port, airport, and land border will be using new technology to record and verify biometric data. When a non-Schengen traveller enters the Schengen zone for the first time, they will be required to provide fingerprints and facial images, this digital record will then be stored (for 3 years) for future travel.
Countries implementing this new system have initially warned of possible longer wait times and potential delays at busy borders, especially during peak travel seasons as each new traveller will need to have their data taken, following entries may be faster to process as the data has already been taken and only needs to be verified.
What countries are using the EES system
There are currently 29 European countries that will be introducing the Entry/Exit System:
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungry, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Exceptions to EES
There are certain exceptions to the EES system, these can be found here.
Why is this system being introduced?
Reasons why the Entry/Exit System has been introduced include:
- It is a more reliable and efficient system than manual stamping
- It helps combat identity fraud and improve security at borders
- This new system will detect if travellers exceed their 90-day Schengen travel allowance, so to avoid penalties ensure you are tracking your stay! Make sure you are not travelling for more than 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen zone.
Sources:
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en
Disclaimer: At the date of publication all information within this article was factually accurate. However, changes in circumstances over time may impact the accuracy of the information.
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