What will the EU’s new entry/exit system mean for British travellers?

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After the UK voted to depart the European Union and the authorities negotiated for British travellers to grow to be “third-country nationals subject to a range of restrictions, British passport holders must now have their travel documents inspected and stamped.

The next steps, which are likely to be introduced in autumn 2024, will involve more red tape. The good news: passport stamping will end. The bad news: every traveller must be fingerprinted and provide a facial biometric.

The European Union is planning to introduce an “Entry/Exit System” (EES) that will report the actions of non-EU guests. Shortly afterwards – in mid 2025, in accordance the newest plan – potential UK guests to the Schengen space will have to use on-line for permission to enter.

The Schengen space contains most of the 27 remaining members of the European Union (however not Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland or Romania), plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) is the subsequent step in tightening frontier controls. It relies upon upon EES being totally purposeful and is because of seem in mid-2025.

When it’s launched, the €7 (£6) on-line allow will be legitimate for three years.

What is the “Entry/Exit System”?

The Entry/Exit System is an automatic IT system for registering residents from “third countries”, which implies in every single place exterior the EU and Schengen space.

The system is aimed toward such travellers after they both enter or depart at an exterior Schengen border – equivalent to flying from the UK to Spain or crossing by street from Greece to Turkey. (It will not be used for inner frontiers inside the Schengen space.)

EES will register the date and place of entry or exit, plus fingerprints and a facial biometric.

This system, says the European Union, “will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which is time-consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings, and does not allow a systematic detection of over-stayers”.

British travellers, like different “third-country nationals,” are restricted to 90 days’ keep in any 180 days inside the Schengen space. But enforcement of this at the moment depends upon checking passport stamps and is utilized haphazardly.

The new system will not apply in Ireland or Cyprus

When will it begin?

Originally EES was on account of begin in 2021. But the physique accountable for implementation – the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (EU-Lisa) – has repeatedly pushed again the date as a result of the database is much from prepared.

In October 2023, the European Council’s Justice and Home Affairs Council endorsed a new timeline for the roll-out of EES.

The council mentioned in an announcement: “The new roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees that the Entry/Exit System will be ready to enter into operation in autumn 2024.”

The Independent understands it’s now on account of begin on 6 October 2024

How will the biometric checks work?

Outbound and inbound passengers will undergo the formalities at airports overseas, in an analogous technique to US immigration, although each on the method out and in of the Schengen space.

On the first registration, they have to undergo fingerprint checks and supply a facial biometric. On subsequent visits inside three years, solely one in all these will be required – and for sensible functions the facial biometric will be used.

Each new go to triggers one other three years of validity, till the expiry date of the passport.

Sounds difficult …

Some EU members have expressed alarm at the further time concerned in the new processes, with the Slovenian authorities warning: “It takes up to four times longer to do the new process.”

For terrestrial travellers it might be even worse.

Giving proof to Parliament about the new system, Tim Reardon, head of EU exit for the Port of Dover, mentioned: “There is no such thing as an e-gate for a car, and there is no such thing as an e-gate process for people travelling as a group. They’re all one-at-a-time processes.

“There is no way of doing a biometric control without getting everyone out of the vehicle.

“That’s the one thing on our site which cannot happen, because you’re in the middle of live traffic. It would be equivalent to asking people to get out of their car at a motorway toll booth. It’s fundamentally unsafe and it can’t happen.”

In Janaury 2024, MPs had been warned that Brits travelling to Europe may face waits of 14 hours or extra at border management until measures are launched to forestall delays. Parliament’s European Scrutiny Committee was advised by Ashford Borough Council that 14-hour queues had been a “reasonable worst case” state of affairs if the scheme had been to be applied as deliberate in October.

Gareth Williams, technique director for Eurostar, which runs trains to France from London, mentioned: “We don’t currently see a practical solution. If we take the peak of August, up to 80 per cent of people will have to go through the system.

“We do have a very extreme space challenge. At a minimum we would require over 30 kiosks, and an area about the size of our entire check-in area at St Pancras.”

The guidelines will not apply to EU residents.

When does Etias begin?

The much-delayed scheme is now anticipated to start out round six months after EES is up and operating – maybe in spring 2025. A “grace period” of six months is more likely to be granted, which means it’s possible Etias will not grow to be necessary earlier than late 2025.

Is Etias a visa?

Officially, no. Europe says that Etias is “a pre-travel authorisation system”. It is an analogous idea to the US Esta, the Canadian eTA and the British ETA, which aren’t technically visas. They are issued to worldwide travellers who don’t require a full visa.

“Its key function is to verify if a third-country national meets entry requirements before travelling to the Schengen area,” says the EU.

But as Etias requires guests to use upfront, present plenty of private data, pay cash and be issued with a allow to cross a border, it isn’t shocking that it’s generally termed a “eurovisa”.

How a lot does it value?

The charge is €7 (£6) for all candidates aged 18 to 70; whereas these underneath 18 or over 70 will nonetheless want an Etias, it will be free.

How will I apply?

When lastly the EU is prepared, at the coronary heart of the system is an Etias app and web site. Travellers will be required to submit private data together with identify, deal with, contact particulars in Europe and passport information. They should additionally state an occupation (with job title and employer). Students will be required to offer the identify of their academic institution).

The applicant should give particulars of any critical convictions in the previous 20 years.

Travellers should additionally present on-line the cause for their journey (vacation, enterprise, visiting household, and so on), specify the nation they will first arrive in, and supply the deal with of their first night time’s keep – which will pose an issue for vacationers who wish to make plans as they go alongside.

As with different on-line journey permits, industrial intermediaries are allowed – however based on Frontex, the EU organisation implementing Etias, there are various rip-off websites on the market which are more likely to apply charges method above the fundamental €7 (£6).

Any web site aside from europa.eu/etias is unofficial and shouldn’t be trusted.

One “imposter” web site claims to have processed 671 functions already; that is unimaginable since no functions have been processed anyplace.

Another web site provides a 40 per cent low cost for early functions. Some use the EU brand, which is illegitimate.

Frontex additionally warns about the danger of identification theft if private data is offered to imposter websites.

What occurs to the data?

Every software will be checked in opposition to EU and related Interpol databases, in addition to “a dedicated Etias watch-list”.

The system will be tuned to pick people suspected of being concerned in terrorism, armed theft, youngster pornography, fraud, cash laundering, cybercrime, individuals smuggling, trafficking in endangered animal species, counterfeiting and industrial espionage.

How far upfront should I apply?

The European Union says: “We strongly advise you to obtain the Etias travel authorisation before you buy your tickets and book your hotels.”

The intention is for an Etias to be granted inside minutes, although even a simple software may take as much as 4 days.

If an software is flagged (ie there’s a “hit” with one in all the databases) the applicant could also be requested to offer extra data. Alternatively, says the EU, the applicant could also be requested “to participate in an interview with national authorities, which may take up to additional 30 days”.

Assuming yours is granted, there isn’t a certificates issued, and nothing must be printed. The frontier guard will get the data she or he wants from the passport you used to use.

In a case of mistaken identification, will I be capable of attraction?

Yes. Details of the way to attraction will be included with the discover of rejection.

Once I’ve an Etias, am I assured admission to the Schengen space?

No. “Mere possession of a travel authorisation does not confer an automatic right of entry,” says the EU. As with the US, travellers may be turned away for any cause.

There is more likely to be a mechanism in place for an Etias to be rescinded.

Do I want to use for an Etias each time I journey to Europe?

No. The allow will be legitimate for three years, or till your passport runs out, whichever is the earlier.

Will I want an Etias to journey to Ireland?

No. The Common Travel Area incorporating the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands transcends European Union guidelines, and in any occasion, Ireland is just not in the Schengen space.

If I’ve a long-stay allow from one in all the EU nations, should I acquire an Etias?

No.

How are individuals with out web entry supposed to use?

They will be anticipated to get a pal, a member of the family or a journey agent to make the software for them, in the similar method as the US Esta and comparable schemes.

Just remind us about the 90/180 day rule?

This rule, to which the UK requested to be topic after leaving the European Union, signifies that British travellers can not keep greater than 90 days in any stretch of 180 days.

As an instance of what it means: should you had been to spend the first 90 days of 2024 (January, February and virtually all of March) in the Schengen space, you wouldn’t be capable of return till late June.

Is this all due to Brexit?

No. Work on strengthening the European Union’s exterior border was already underneath method earlier than the UK referendum on membership in June 2016.

Etias wouldn’t be related if the UK was nonetheless in the EU. But the nation voted to depart the European Union and the British authorities negotiated for British travellers to be categorized as third-country nationals – triggering further crimson tape.