British travellers on the Eurostar will be required to answer four questions about their holiday plans from next month under new EU border control rules. The Entry/Exit System (EES) will be introduced on October 12 at London St Pancras, affecting those travelling to Europe.
Passengers will be asked if they have booked an overnight stay, possess a return ticket, hold medical or travel insurance, and have sufficient funds for their trip. Those answering 'no' to any question will be unable to use e-ticket gates and must speak to a French border control officer, potentially causing delays.
The new rules are expected to add an extra 10 minutes to check-in times initially for business and premium class passengers. Standard class passengers will begin using the system on January 12, with advice to arrive at St Pancras 75 minutes before departure.
Biometric checks, including fingerprints and photographs, will replace passport stamps to enhance border security. At St Pancras, 49 kiosks costing around £11 million have been installed for UK passport holders. Eurotunnel boss Yann Leriche anticipates 'minimal impact' on waiting times at Folkestone and Calais, with around two extra minutes per person.
Fingerprint scans will be valid for three years and are not required for children under 12. The UK government advises that travellers may need to create a digital record on their first visit to the Schengen area, but no information is needed before travel.
