BRITS will have to follow new travel rules when leaving the UK from three ports next month, it has been confirmed.
The long-awaited Entry/Exit System (ESS) is finally be rolled out for any holidaymakers leaving Britain for Europe.
The new EES rules are being rolled out next month[/caption]
At Eurotunnel, passengers will have to get out of their cars[/caption]
Eurostar also has new kiosks being rolled out[/caption]
This means that rather than passport stamps, travellers will need to undergo new biometric checks including fingerprints and photographs at the border.
From October 12, the new checks will be introduced a the Port of Dover, the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone and Eurostar at London St Pancras.
When it comes to Eurotunnel, buses and lorries will follow the new EES rules from October 12, followed by car passengers by the end of the year.
The new system – which cost around £70million, aims to process 700 vehicles an hour, using 224 kiosks at peak times in the Folkestone terminal.
Vehicles will wait under a large white canopy at a kiosk showing their registration plate, before getting out of the car for passport scans and biometric checks.
The full system roll out will be complete by April 2026.
Similarly, only some passengers will be using the new EES system when travelling via Eurostar from October 12 although who will be included in this is yet to been confirmed.
The new facilities – costing around £11million – include 49 kiosks at London St Pancras station.
Passengers leaving the country via airport will have to undergo the checks at the other end when they land.
Estonia confirmed that they would be the first EU country to fully roll out EES.
Despite fears of long waits or chaos at the border, Eurotunnel boss Yann Leriche said they expect “minimal impact” on wait times, with around two minutes extra per person at Folkestone and Calais.
The fingerprint scans will then last three years and not have to be taken again.
Kids under the age of 12 will not have to have their fingerprints taken.
The current advice from the official GOV.UK website states: “When EES is introduced, you may need to create a digital record on your first visit to the Schengen area at the port or airport on arrival.
“You will need to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths.
Eurostar is introducing the new checks for some passengers at London St Pancras[/caption]
“You will not need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country.
“If you are flying to a country in the Schengen area, you will complete EES checks when you arrive at your destination.”
Here are some of the questions you may be asked when entering an EU country.
While the new EES system is being rolled out this year, the new EU-visa waiver is still being delayed.
Called the ETIAS, and similar to the ESTA required by Brits for the US, it will mean holidaymakers need to pay for exemption.
Initially said to cost €7 (£6), it has since been raised to €20 (£18) despite it not even launching yet.
The visa waiver will last around three years and will cover all EU countries.
Anyone under the age of 18 or over the age of 70 will get it for free.
The finger print scans will last three years[/caption]
