GTW writer Mike Pickup explains all you need to know about EES and ETIAS…

The Schengen area, currently most of western Europe except Ireland and Cyprus (which is rumoured to be joining next year) will shortly be introducing two new entry requirements which will apply to all British passport holders. Here’s how it affects you:

EES

The electronic Entry/Exit System is designed to replace the stamping of passports when entering and leaving member countries and its roll-out starts on October 12. Not every entry point will be up and running on day one and it will take around six months to be fully implemented. Under EES, when you first enter the Schengen area you will be required to have your fingerprints and facial scan recorded at dedicated booths.

The process will take only a few minutes but it is anticipated that there will be significant delays early on so, if you are being met at an airport, be sure to warn the people meeting you. Your EES record will be valid for three years after your last visit so on subsequent visits all you need to do is provide a fingerprint or photo. However, as it includes passport details it will have to be renewed when you have a new passport.

Those travelling to Europe by Eurostar will be able to register before departure using self-service kiosks at St Pancras station and there will be similar facilities for Eurotunnel passengers at Folkestone. People travelling by ferry from Dover will also be able to register before departure using either purpose-build kiosks or staff equipped with tablets. Again, allow for delays early on.

ETIAS

The ETIAS system is, like the US ESTA, a visa waiver program. Currently scheduled to start in Q4 2026, applications will be made online and it is expected that most will be approved within minutes. The ETIAS will be valid for three years or until your passport expires. There is a fee of twenty euros per person for an ETIAS but those under 18 and over 70 will not pay the fee. There is no need to print out your approval as the system is totally electronic, but some will do so for peace of mind.

Cruise passengers

Passengers on cruises departing from and returning to the UK will not need to register for the EES system, even though they may have ports of call within the Schengen area. However, they will have to comply with the ETIAS system. Passengers travelling to the Schengen area for the start of a fly-cruise will have to comply with EES on arrival at the destination airport so again need to be aware of possible delays in transfers to the ships.

If in doubt about either system, be sure to check with your travel company so you have all the information you need to hand.

Avoid the queues

In the early months of its implementation the EES system may generate queues and delays at airports as millions of us register for the first time. If you want to avoid the risk of these early problems then families or groups looking for alternatives to popular Mediterranean destinations such as Spain, Italy and Greece could consider Turkey, Cyprus and Montenegro. For winter sunshine then if the Canaries are where you would normally go, take a look at Cape Verde. Just six hours’ flying time and one hour time difference there’s an average 300 days of sunshine a year, a steady temperature in the high 20s, an Atlantic breeze to avoid the humidity of neighbouring Africa and vast, sparsely populated sandy beaches.

UK-based cruises are also an alternative and it’s easy to visit places such as the Norwegian Fjords, the Baltics, towns and cities of Europe’s Atlantic coast and even sail round the British Isles. It’s a great way to see what the Britain has to offer.

For information, here are the Schengen countries:

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.

PHOTO: Pixabay