Foreign Office Issues Urgent Advice for Travellers to EU Countries
The UK’s Foreign Office has issued an urgent warning to all travellers going to the EU starting from November 1. Here are the key points to note:
- From November 2024, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will be in effect for all non-EU nationals, including British nationals, traveling in or out of the Schengen area.
- The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries, 25 of which are EU Member States.
- Travellers will be required to provide their biometric information, including fingerprints and a photo, upon entry.
- Queues at borders are expected to increase due to these new requirements.
The EES is a digital border system aimed at streamlining entry procedures by registering non-EU visitors without stamping passports. The process involves having fingerprints and a photo taken upon entering the Schengen area. If entering through Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone, or St Pancras International, this data will be collected before leaving the UK. There may be longer waiting times at borders initially.
This measure aims to enhance border security and combat illegal migration within the EU. It will create a digital record of individuals entering the Schengen area. This new system precedes the 2025 launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
ETIAS will require travellers to submit personal information, travel plans, and pay a 7 Euro fee for authorization before traveling to the Schengen area. When EES is implemented, travellers will register at the Schengen border, providing their biometric details at dedicated booths upon arrival. While the process should only take a few minutes per person, longer queues are anticipated during the transition period.
For more information, visit the official Foreign Office website for advice on these new travel requirements.