Travelling to Europe? A new digital border system has officially come into effect, after a gradual roll out across European countries. The new Entry/Exist System (EES) first started in October last year, and has become fully operational today on Friday, April 10. Instead of having their passport stamped, travellers who are not a part of the Schengen Area will need to have a photo taken or their fingerprints scanned. This new system also applies to Australian travellers.
Entry/Exit System — what Australian travellers should expect
Smartraveller has stated that while the registration process itself might be quick, there may be longer border queues as a result of the EES.
According to Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, waiting times have increased at border crossing points in airports around Europe, regularly reaching up to two hours at peak traffic times.
ACI Europe, as well as Airlines for Europe (A4E) and International Air Transport Association (IATA), has warned that there could be “severe disruptions” over the peak summer months if key issues, like border control understaffing, aren’t resolved.
“There is a complete disconnect between the perception of the EU institutions that EES is working well, and the reality, which is that non-EU travellers are experiencing massive delays and inconvenience,” they said in a joint statement. “We need to be realistic about what will happen during the peak summer months, when traffic at Europe’s airports doubles.”
In order to speed up the process, there is an app where travellers with biometric passports can preregister their details. However, this app can only be used when entering Sweden or Portugal. There is no word yet on when other countries will take up this app.
What will happen when you arrive?
The first time you enter the Schengen area after the EES is in place, you will have your fingerprints and your photo taken by a passport control officer. This will be recorded in a digital file. Then, if you revisit the Schengen area within 3 years, you will only need to provide your fingerprint and/or your photograph on entry and exit.
The EES is in place for countries in the European Union, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The registration applies for ‘short stay visitors’, which means you can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
To read more about the EES, click here. For more guidance from Smartraveller, click here.