LONDON (Chatnewstv.com) — The British government on Monday launched a campaign to prepare travelers for new European Union border rules that will take effect next month, urging people to allow more time for journeys.
From Oct. 12, the EU will introduce its Entry/Exit System (EES) for U.K. and other non-EU nationals making short stays. The automated system will replace passport stamping, requiring travelers to scan their passports and provide fingerprints and a photograph on their first visit. The registration will remain valid for three years or until the passport expires.
“While EES checks will be a significant change to the EU border, we are in constant and close dialogue with our European partners to try and minimise the impact on the British public,” a government spokesperson said.
“Anyone who is planning a trip to the European mainland once these checks are introduced will still need to allow more time for their journey as the new EU systems bed in.”
The new rules apply to all Schengen-area countries, including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, but not to Ireland or Cyprus. Children under 12 will not be fingerprinted, though all travelers, including infants, will be photographed.
Checks are expected to take one to two minutes per traveler but could cause longer waits, particularly at busy ports such as Dover, Folkestone and London’s St. Pancras International, where juxtaposed border controls are conducted before departure.
The government has invested £10.5 million to upgrade infrastructure at those ports. It said it is working with operators including Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover to limit disruption during the six-month phased rollout of the system, which runs until April 2026.
The EU says the EES will help enforce the bloc’s 90-day visa-free rule for non-EU visitors and strengthen border control. British citizens with EU residence rights under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, and dual nationals traveling on EU passports, will be exempt.
