A new timeline for the EU’s post-Brexit Entry/Exit System (EES) has officially been confirmed by EU ministers. EU officials have announced that some parts of the system will be operational in late 2024. When it finally does come into force, non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area will face new border controls.
Some have anticipated chaos when the scheme launches, while others are hopeful that the repeated delays will give countries enough time to prepare for the change. One is the Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated IT system for registering travellers from third-countries, both short-stay visa holders and visa exempt travellers, each time they cross an EU external border.
The system will register the person’s name, type of the travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection.
It will also record refusals of entry.
EES will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which is time consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings and does not allow a systematic detection of over-stayers (travellers who have exceeded the maximum duration of their authorised stay). EES will contribute to prevent irregular migration and help protect the security of European citizens.
The new system will also help bona fide third-country nationals to travel more easily while also identifying more efficiently over-stayers as well as cases of document and identity fraud. In addition to this, the system will enable to make a wider use of automated border control checks and self-service systems, which are quicker and more comfortable for the traveller.
The European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) is responsible for developing and managing the system.
And the other is the ETIAS travel authorisation which is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.
With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.
You can fill out the application form using either this official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile application. Applying for the ETIAS travel authorisation costs EUR 7, though some travellers are exempt from paying this fee.
9 comments
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That's the problem with cut and paste - you end up repeating stuff over and over again. Word count could be 30% shorter and it would make more sense. Personally can't see any problem with EES. Going to the States used to be a nightmare but when they installed a similar system about ten years ago the queues vanished. You can still get mugged by the awful baggage checking goons of course.
Peter PerfectI presume you mean tax avoiders. Tax evaders, like, for instance, the gentlemen who lost some luggage in the Santa Ponsa bay, won’t take a blind bit of notice of these silly regulations meant to make life difficult the generally law abiding “little people” who are trying their best to keep as much of their already taxed income for themselves. I am one of those people who find it hard to believe that in this day and age, there actually are people in “hiding”. Maybe there are a few without bank accounts, credit cards, phones, insurance, medical or otherwise, property or a rental contract, electricity and vehicles, not to mention having to live through another pandemic. If so, I hope for their sake that they never fall ill or need to catch a bus. Let us know if you meet or know of one of these people. I’m sure someone on the DB would like to interview them.
Peter PerfectThose people normally fly in on private jets and use the VIP entrance.
Richard PearsonWhat is your problem to use a card, many, many do these days, it's 2023 after all.
Richard PearsonMr Pearson you have problem to express yourself. I guess it might affect you, therefore only Bla, bla.
Those in hiding will now have to own up if they want to travel from now on. Should catch a few tax evaders and the like.
At least this narrative is a more accurate portrayal of what it actually is, no longer framed as an affront specifically targeted at Brits, nor a thinly veiled means of "banning" Brits from Mallorca. But the 6 quid (well, 2 quid per year)... 😲
They also want to get rid of Cash to make life “easier” for us.
Bla, bla, bla; Bla, bla, bla.