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New date set for introduction of 'visas' and fingerprint scans for Brits to enter EU - MIRROR
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A new start date has been set for the introduction of 'visas' for British travellers entering the European Union (EU).
Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, confirmed that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) will not be introduced until November 2025. The delayed roll out of the EU's long trailered schemes means that Brits will have extra time before biometric border checks commence.
The EES was initially due to be implemented on November 10, 2024, however technical challenges and concerns from member states about its impact on border congestion, forced the implementation date to be pushed back.
When finally live, it will replace manual passport stamping with a digital registration process, requiring non-EU travellers, including British travellers, to provide fingerprints and facial recognition data when crossing the Schengen Area. The system will aim to streamline border security, by tracking entries and exits to the EU electronically.
The EES is not technically a 'visa' but rather a registration process, although it will function in a very similar manner to a visa from the holidaymaker's perspective.
However, port authorities and transport officials have warned about potential delays once the system launches. The initial registration process is expected to take time, especially at high-traffic points such as Dover and the Channel Tunnel. The Port of Dover is currently expanding its infrastructure, including additional registration areas, in an attempt to handle any long queues or bottlenecks, as passengers will need to exit their vehicles for biometric registration.
Bannister said: “We’re gearing our plans up for a November start, but we still don’t have a firm date."
Once operational, the EES will require travellers from non-EU countries to register their fingerprints and facial biometrics at the border, have their travel history recorded digitally, no longer receive physical stamps in their passport and returning travellers will not need to repeat biometric registration for three years, unless they obtain a new passport.
The EU Commission is expected to set an exact start date by April or May 2025. In the meantime, UK officials and travel operators are ensuring travellers are informed about the new requirements and ready for when they come into effect.
The new system is a part of the EU's broader mission to tighten border security and modernise immigration protocols. By digitising entry and exit records, the EU will be able to gauge a more accurate picture of who enters, leaves and overstays their permitted visit.
In turn, this may prompt some member states to reassess their visa policies, especially for countries with a high amount of overstayers. In addition, some Governments may introduce stricter visa conditions, increase enforcement measures, or impose longer re-entry bans on individuals who violate the rules.
All UK passport holders travelling to the EU, whether by air, rail, or ferry, will need to go through the process. Ireland and Cyprus, which are not part of the Schengen border system, will not enforce these checks.
