The carefree summer getaway to Europe could become a thing of the past for millions of Britons, as a new EU digital border system threatens to create unprecedented queues and delays. The long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to be implemented, potentially catching up to 15 million UK travellers off guard during the peak holiday season.
What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EES is an automated IT system designed to register non-EU travellers each time they cross an external EU border. It will replace the manual stamping of passports, instead recording the traveller's name, biometric data (including fingerprints and facial images), and the date and place of entry and exit.
Why Could This Cause Major Delays?
The core of the problem lies in the initial registration process. Unlike the swift scan of a passport chip, the EES requires first-time users to undergo a one-time registration that involves:
- Having their photograph taken
- Providing four fingerprints
- Answering a series of questions at the border
This process, estimated to take several minutes per person, could bring busy terminals like those in Dover, Folkestone, and St Pancras International to a standstill. Port officials have warned that coach queues could back up for miles, with processing times potentially increasing from under a minute to up to ten minutes per vehicle.
Who Will Be Most Affected?
While all British passport holders will be subject to the new rules, certain groups are expected to face the most significant impact:
- Families and large groups: Each member, including children, must be registered individually.
- Coach travellers: With up to 50 passengers per coach, the cumulative delay could be substantial.
- Day-trippers and short-break holidaymakers: The added border time could make quick trips impractical.
How Can Travellers Prepare?
Experts advise holidaymakers to build significant extra time into their travel plans, especially for the first journey under the new system. While the registration is a one-off requirement for each traveller, the system's rollout is expected to cause teething problems and longer waits throughout the summer of 2024.
The implementation of the EES is a stark reminder of the post-Brexit travel landscape. For British tourists dreaming of Mediterranean beaches or Alpine retreats, a new era of digital border checks is about to begin, making preparation more critical than ever.
