EES (entry exit system)

[turkeyfoot]

Hi
Seems it will be delayed yet again,the latest commencement date (one of many) was to be November 2024 and when it does start it will now start with a small pilot scheme.

I assume this will also delay the introduction of ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System),which was due to start in May 2025. It was always said that ETIAS would be introduced after EES

Keep having our passports stamped for now

Geoff

 

[turkeyfoot]

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 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 official EES website https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en now states:

Entry/Exit system is currently not in operation. It is due to start in 2025.

Although it has been defered several times already

So no issues for this Summer

Geoff

[turkeyfoot]

Hi

UK Government have just updated entry requirements  into Greece on their website ,which will of course apply to all EU countries, if you look at each member country requirements on the appropriate pages

They say on their update,released March 17th, EES is expected to start in Octotober 2025.

This means the ETIAS start date, which has always been 6 months after EES date, will be April 2026, although this is not refered to on this update

Geoff

[turkeyfoot]

Hi
EU member states have now agreed the introduction of EES system in October 2025

An app that would allow passengers to provide some information for EES before arriving at a border crossing is set to be launched this year.

"The app is ready to be used with the start of the EES in the coming autumn," said the statement from Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, supports EU Member States and Schengen-associated countries in the management of the EU's external borders )
The purpose of the app is to reduce processing times at borders.

All EU member states are being encouraged to integrate the app with their national systems. Frontex said it was not for every border crossing point, but for big travel hubs where the time saved would "make a real difference".

Airports in France, the Netherlands and Italy will not begin pilots of the app until 2026, however.
 
Travellers will be able to "pre-register" travel document data and a photograph of their face for the EES before arriving at a border crossing point, according to Frontex. Users will answer an entry questionnaire.

Use of the app will be voluntary for both EU member states and travellers.

All EU member states are being encouraged to integrate the app with their national systems. Frontex said it was not for every border crossing point, but for big travel hubs where the time saved would "make a real difference.

Non-EU countries that are in the Schengen area will also implement EES. The four non-EU Schengen area countries are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Although to be introduced outside the main holiday season , if undue delays are caused at its introduction, each member state will be able to suspend the system for aperiod of time
Geoff