NEW rules for all Brits heading to Europe have been introduced today.
The new Entry Exit System (EES) will now require any non-EU citizens to register at the EU border.
New rules have been introduced today[/caption]
Passport scans and photographs will now be required to be taken[/caption]
Rather than passport stamps, this will include a passport scan as well as fingerprints and photographs being taken.
Kids under 12 will not have their fingerprints taken, although all travellers regardless of age will have their photo taken.
Questions will also be asked regarding holding of a return ticket home and whether the traveller has enough funds to cover their trip.
This affects all Schengen area countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Non-Schengen countries it will not be required for are Ireland or Cyprus.
This will be conducted on the UK side of the Port of Dover for passengers heading on a cruise, as well as anyone using the Eurotunnel at Folkestone and Eurostar in London.
Anyone travelling to Europe by plane will have the checks at the border when they land.
Estonia and Luxembourg are the two countries that are fully rolling out the new EES today.
Brits travelling from the UK will need to register for their first visit, although this will then last for three years or until the passport expires.
The new rules are being rolled out in phases over the next six months, will a full roll out complete by April 2026.
It is hoped this will prevent huge border queues and delays.
However, some experts have expressed concerns.
Tom Jenkins, chief executive of European travel association Etoa, told Travel Weekly: “It’s a complete muddle.
They can’t have a partial system, which is what they’re trying to do – to start enrolment, to get the electronic record up even if it’s not a proper record.
“So, they’re going to register people as well as stamping their passport.”
However, the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, said: “We recognise that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible.
Fingerprints will also be taken[/caption]
“The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration.”
Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, Keir Mather, added that they had backed the move with £10.5million funding to help ease the process of the EES system.
They added: “Our priority is to minimise disruption for travellers and hauliers, particularly at our busiest border crossings.
“We’ll continue working closely with European partners and local resilience forums to keep traffic flowing and journeys smooth.”
The rules currently allowing Brits to visit Europe for 90 days in a 180 day period will remain unchanged.
Yet to be rolled out is another change for Brits heading to Europe – the ETIAS.
The Sun’s Head of Travel explains more
The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained everything you need to know about the upcoming EES.
While airports across Europe have the space to add this additional process it is still going to add a huge amount of extra time to the customs checks.
Although it will remove the need to have stamps in your passport, everything will still need to be checked either by a border officer or an e-gate.
Where things could get really bad are at ports like Dover – where there are significant space constraints and multiple individuals will be travelling together in cars and coaches.
Both Eurostar and Le Shuttle have invested millions in new facilities to process passengers but it is almost inevitable that the first few months of the system could lead to lengthy delays as we all get used to the new system.
Similar to the ESTA required for visiting the US, the visa-waiver will be required for all UK passport holders heading to an EU country.
This will be rolled out next year, and could cost up to €20, although will last three years.
A full rollout will be complete from April 10, 2026[/caption]
