New EU Journey Guidelines – BBC

What are these new journey guidelines?

From this Sunday, 12 October, as defined by Ash Bhardwaj on Morning Live, the European Union is bringing in a brand new system for British travellers heading to Europe – or extra particularly, the Schengen space. That’s the zone overlaying 29 European international locations, together with France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany and Portugal, the place you possibly can transfer freely between borders.

The change is being rolled out in levels over the following six months, beginning with one thing known as the EU Entry/Exit System, or EES. It replaces the previous approach of stamping passports while you arrive or depart. From now on, it is all digital – an digital file as a substitute of an ink stamp.

Each time you enter or depart a Schengen nation, the system will routinely log your particulars. It’s designed to enhance border safety and assist stop travellers from overstaying their 90-day restrict. NB: Trips to Ireland should not affected by this modification. You’ll begin to discover the brand new checks in 4 major locations – and each is introducing it a bit of in a different way

Where EES will are available:

What can we count on, then, once we subsequent journey to Europe?

The first time you journey, you will must register at a particular machine known as a kiosk. They look a bit just like the e-gates you see at airports, with biometric scanners inbuilt. You’ll scan your passport, then the machine will take your fingerprints and a photograph. You’ll additionally reply 4 quick questions on your journey, similar to the place you are staying and whether or not you’ve got acquired a return flight booked. If you are going via Eurotunnel, these questions might be requested by border officers as a substitute of the machine.

Once you are registered, your particulars might be saved for 3 years. On future journeys, all you will want is a fast face scan to verify it is you. It’s value remembering you could solely spend as much as 90 days in any 180-day interval within the Schengen space.

There are a number of exceptions, for instance, kids beneath 12 will not want to present fingerprints. NB IMPORTANT: A full record of exemptions is obtainable on the GOV.UK , externalweb site.

Officials say it ought to take about two to 3 minutes per particular person, however households or these much less accustomed to self-service machines may take a bit longer.

Does this imply lengthy queues?

As with all new techniques, there are going to be glitches and an adjustment interval. The UK authorities states that the checks ought to solely take one to 2 minutes for every particular person, however they could end in longer ready occasions at border management. This is why they’re introducing the system progressively, to attempt to scale back the extent of disruption.

During the preliminary transition interval, the port of Dover will be capable of quickly stand down EES if queues get too lengthy and revert to handbook passport stamping. The key’s to permit greater than sufficient time on your journey and get there throughout the beneficial time. Do checks beforehand, like verify your passport is legitimate and have any journey paperwork chances are you’ll want, prepared and simply accessible.

The EU Border Agency is within the technique of creating a cell phone app to allow passengers to do a part of the method earlier than reaching the border, to attempt to make the expertise as seamless as attainable; nevertheless, it will not be broadly used simply but. But hopefully it will likely be one other step in direction of making the method as fast and simple as attainable.

What occurs to our knowledge once we register?

The knowledge they are going to be gathering isn’t any totally different to the info they gather now.

They can have entry to:

Countries will use your knowledge for a number of causes, together with figuring out travellers who aren’t allowed to enter, discovering these utilizing faux identities, and serving to to forestall and examine severe crimes. If you refuse to offer biometric knowledge, you can be refused entry.

Will we have to have journey insurance coverage?

There’s no new rule within the EES that claims you should be insured to enter Europe.

However, France has mentioned that border officers could ask for proof of medical journey insurance coverage while you arrive, notably as soon as the brand new system is in full use. That’s already written into France’s present entry necessities for non-EU guests, and EES will make these checks a bit extra constant.

While it is not obligatory beneath the brand new system, it is undoubtedly value having journey insurance coverage that covers medical prices, as your GHIC card solely covers fundamental state healthcare (not non-public therapy, repatriation, or cancellations).

In quick: EES will not power you to purchase insurance coverage, however you would be requested for it. And it is nonetheless one of the simplest ways to be sure to’re lined if something goes unsuitable.