I’m travelling to the EU on or after 12 October. What is altering?

British passport holders – in addition to different “third-country nationals”, from the US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere – are about to grow to be topic to the European Union’s entry-exit system (EES). The digital border scheme begins on Sunday 12 October. Many readers of The Independent have posed questions in regards to the EES, and this Q&A distils the important thing points.

What’s the large thought?

The long-awaited entry-exit system connects each frontier crossing level into the Schengen space (comprising all EU nations besides Ireland and Cyprus, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) with a central database. It goals to crack down on crime and implement the restrict on stays, of 90 days in any 180 days, that applies to British travellers and different third-country nationals.

The system will acquire or test biometrics from all third-country nationals after they both enter or depart at an exterior Schengen border. These borders embody worldwide airports, sea ports, railway stations and street crossings.

On the primary event on which the traveller comes into contact with the system, it should create a digital report: registering their face and fingerprints, together with private knowledge from their passport. (Under-12s are excused offering fingerprints.) On subsequent crossings of the Schengen space border, the facial biometric can be checked in opposition to this report.

What is the mechanism?

Most travellers will register on kiosks put in at borders. You place the photograph web page of your passport as indicated, after which comply with the directions.

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On subsequent visits, you’ll both use a kiosk to verify that your face and passport match the main points saved on the system, or an eGate – if these have been modified to carry out the face-check for non-EU travellers.

What will I discover on day one?

Probably nothing. The EES is being rolled out steadily over the course of 180 days, from 12 October 2025 to 9 April 2026. Initially, member states are solely required to introduce the EES on a token foundation – Germany is beginning with Dusseldorf airport – and solely a small proportion of travellers can be required to undergo the entry-exit system.

Do I want to arrange something prematurely?

No. This is a further layer of purple tape on the port of entry. For the primary six months, the old-style analogue enterprise of checking and stamping passports will proceed as regular – however chances are you’ll be requested for biometrics too.

It can be one other 12 months earlier than you need to enrol for an Etias “euro visa” forward of a visit.

What occurs to EU passport holders when the EES begins?

They will breeze by way of the frontier by way of particular lanes, the place the one test can be a look at their passport to test {that a}) it’s legitimate and b) it’s theirs. Just because it was once for British passport holders earlier than Brexit. If you may have an EU passport, you’ll be able to wave us all farewell and be within the bar in report time.

How lengthy does my ‘digital record’ final?

For three years after an interplay with the EES. Each new go to triggers one other three years of validity of the preliminary registration. In different phrases, in the event you don’t cross a Schengen space frontier for 3 years, you’ll need to register once more.

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Renewing a passport shouldn’t require you to register once more. The system ought to replace routinely whenever you current your new passport and the system checks your facial biometric.

Must I present proof of journey insurance coverage?

Almost actually not. While it’s true that the EES kiosks within the Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras International are asking “Do you have medical insurance?”, this has been a requirement to enter France (however no different EU nation) for a few years, and has by no means been enforced for UK travellers. The kiosks at Folkestone, for Eurotunnel crossings, will not be asking this query.

The UK authorities insists: “Medical insurance will not be a mandatory requirement for UK citizens travelling to the EU under EES. However, we strongly recommend that all passengers purchase comprehensive travel insurance, including medical cover, before travelling abroad.”

What if I’m on a cruise?

If the voyage begins and ends within the UK, you shouldn’t want to make use of the entry-exit system. The Home Office says: “Sailings that start and finish their journey outside of the Schengen area (for example, at a UK port) will generally be exempt from EES checks, including for any day trips into the Schengen area that are part of their itinerary.”

If you’re on a “fly cruise” and are becoming a member of and/or leaving the ship in a Schengen space port, you’ll need to undergo the entry-exit system on the Schengen frontier.