TUI issues warning to holidaymakers ahead of major new travel change
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new digital border system that will alter the requirements for UK nationals travelling to the Schengen area, which includes popular holiday destinations like Spain, France and Italy
by Milo Boyd, Jamie Greer · ChronicleLiveTUI has alerted British holidaymakers to a significant change that could lead to increased waiting times at border control, due to the implementation of a new digital border system for entry and exit within EU countries starting next month.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to revolutionise the way UK nationals enter the Schengen zone, which encompasses favourite vacation spots such as Spain, France, and Italy. In contrast to EU citizens who can move freely across these nations without passport checks, Brits will now have to provide biometric information like fingerprints or a facial image on arrival.
This fresh procedure is poised to take over from the existing practice of stamping passports manually when entering the EU.
The anticipated launch date for the EES is November 10, although there's potential for a delay until November 17 if last-minute adjustments are needed.
Travel heavyweight TUI has detailed the implications of this new system for UK travellers on its website, cautioning that they might encounter longer queues when reaching their holiday destinations. The notice explained: "When the EES is operational it's planned that all entry and exit movements will be registered electronically.", reports the Mirror.
Furthermore, TUI has assured customers that no extra pre-travel actions are necessary, as the Advanced Passenger Information (API) form, which passengers already complete, will be utilized by airlines to forward their details.
According to the Liverpool Echo, if you opt for airport check-in, your details will be transmitted to the EU during the process.
"Upon arrival at your destination, the first time you use it might take a bit longer than usual to pass through border control as your biometric data (face image and four fingerprints) will be collected. Children under 12 years old will not have their fingerprints collected. On the day of travel, in case there are any delays, you may wish to take along extra water to make your airport journey more comfortable," read a statement from TUI.
The European Union has developed the Entry/Exit System (EES) with the aim of bolstering border security, curtailing overstays, and tackling irregular migration within the Schengen area. This initiative will see the automation of border control processes, designed to keep track of visitors' entries and exits, thereby ensuring they do not exceed their visa allowances.
In preparation for the EES, the UK government is collaborating closely with the European Commission, individual member states, regional authorities, and tourism industry stakeholders. The government is offering support to ports and airlines to ensure a seamless registration process for travellers heading to the Schengen zone.
The UK government is stepping in to support Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover with a £3.5m boost each for registration kiosks and infrastructure improvements. Eurostar is optimistic that EES registration will be smooth sailing, with 50 kiosks spread across three station locations for travellers to complete checks.
Eurotunnel is set to have over 100 kiosks and predicts that EES checks will add just over five minutes to journey times. The Port of Dover will feature 24 kiosks for coach passengers, and car passengers will be registered by agents using tablets, aiming to make the process as seamless as possible.
The Schengen area encompasses Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
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