Under new regulations that came into force in April, British holidaymakers travelling to Spain and other Schengen area countries are subject to the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES). Most UK passport holders must scan their passport, have their photograph taken, and provide four fingerprint scans upon entry. However, the UK Government has confirmed that all children under 12 will not be fingerprinted, though they will still be photographed and have digital records created.
Exemptions for Non-UK Passport Holders
British holidaymakers may also be exempt from the EES if they travel on a non-UK passport. For example, those holding an Irish passport will not be required to use the EES scheme. Recent estimates suggest that more than a third of a million UK residents hold both UK and Irish passports, a figure that has risen sharply since Brexit.
EES Rules and Schengen Area
Under the new system, those travelling on a UK passport are permitted to visit the Schengen area for no more than 90 days within any 180-day period. Once registered for travel via the EES, the digital record remains valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever occurs first. The Schengen area comprises 27 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Impact on Travel
People have reported long queues and disruption under the new EES scheme for EU travel. The exemptions for children under 12 and non-UK passport holders aim to ease the burden on some travellers, but the majority of UK passport holders will still need to comply with the biometric requirements.
