New EU entry rules starting in 2025 could cause delays to UK tourists' holidays
New EU entry rules being introduced this year have caused concerns for potential delays at borders which could affect UK tourists travelling abroad on holiday. The new Entry/Exit System (EES) was due to start in November after several delays since 2022, but was pushed back again with the roll-out now expected in 2025.
The new automated entry system will replace the current manual system of stamping Brits' passports when they cross an external EU border. Instead, travellers will need to scan their passports at an automated self-service kiosk.
The system will register the person's name, type of travel document, the date and place of entry and exit, as well as biometric data like fingerprints and a facial image. The new rules will apply to British travellers when visiting 29 Euopean countries, including Spain, Greece, Portugal and France.
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The European Commission said the new system will help to keep a better track of any overstayers or refusals of entry and eventually reduce wait times at busy entry points. However, concerns have been raised that the roll-out will add to delays at border checkpoints when it starts.
Operators at the UK's Port of Dover and Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals have expressed concerns about the impact of EES, specifically the logistics of registering travellers and the potential for delays, with those travelling in vehicles expected to prove particularly challenging.
Kiosks are being installed for passengers at St Pancras station and the Eurotunnel terminal to process passengers, however this will require drivers to get out of their cars to register at the Eurotunnel terminal. People travelling via the Port of Dover will have tablets provided to them, which can then be passed around to all passengers inside each car. Coach passengers at Dover will need to get off and register their details at kiosks.
Work is being undertaken in the EU on a pre-registration process to minimise problems at the border. The new Labour government said in July 2024 that it was unhappy about the level of preparations put in place for EES by the last administration, but said it would work with the French government to help make UK tourists aware of the upcoming changes.
The latest delay to the EES launch came after Germany, France and the Netherlands said their systems were not ready. In November, EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson said there was not a new timeframe for the implementation, but said it would be phased in. While a revised launch date has yet to be confirmed, the Eurotunnel website states that it will be introduced in 2025.
EES will work in conjunction with the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is due to come into operation a few months after EES. This will require travellers from outside of the EU to obtain a travel permit before visiting the 29 member countries.
Applications will cost €7 for people aged between 18 and 70 and travellers will be advised to apply before they've booked flights and hotels. Most people will receive authorisation within minutes, however some may require further checks, which could delay approval for up to 30 days. Authorisation will last for three years or until the holder's passport expires, then will need to be renewed.