Families face longer queues at the border as under-12s now have to undergo an extra check when travelling to or from countries in the European Union.
British passport holders now need to go through the Entry-Exit System (EES) process at airports and ports where the system is operational, which is the majority. The first time passengers go through this process, they must submit several pieces of information along with a face and fingerprint scan, which can take several minutes. For subsequent journeys, the process is much shorter and only involves a quick passport scan.
ABTA clarifies rules for children under 12
Following reports of confusion about whether British children under 12 had to comply with the new EES rules, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has provided clarity. "People of all ages will need to go through the EES checks. Children under 12 will not need to provide fingerprints, but they will need to have a facial scan taken," the trade organisation writes.
The extra check means families with children may want to get to the airport a little earlier. The roll-out of EES has not been smooth, with some passengers stuck in lengthy queues and missing their flights.
Delays and costs for passengers
Airlines said that many airports still lack enough biometric scanners and staff to process passengers quickly, contributing to these delays. A family of three was left with costs of almost £2,000 when they got stuck in EES queues, The i Paper reports. Matthew Wilson, his wife, and their 14-year-old son were due to fly back from Milan to Manchester on April 12, only to get stuck in "a very long queue" at passport control, which culminated in them missing their flights.
"It was very stressful," Wilson, a 54-year-old management consultant, said. "We will think twice before travelling in Europe again."
Airport readiness and criticism
Ryanair has been among the strongest critics, warning of "queue chaos", the budget airline arguing that the system was not ready for full implementation. Alicante Airport in Spain has come under particular scrutiny, with some claiming it is unprepared for full checks, ETIAS reports. Industry insiders have blamed "insufficient staff, kiosks and system readiness."
Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is preparing a £985 million upgrade that includes facilities intended to streamline EES processing, but that will not be complete in time for the extended EES implementation deadline of September.
Under the system, which officially began on 10 April, all non-EU citizens heading to the Schengen area no longer receive manual passport stamps. Instead, they must provide their fingerprints and a photo of their face to prevent them from staying in Schengen countries for more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
