Biometric checks to visit EU could take nine months to fully enforce | Travel
Biometric records may not be applied nine months to visit the EU, and the border officials were allowed to relax the rules of alleviating ports or chaos after the system was finally released.
In a period of more than two weeks, Eurotunnel, Eurostar and Dover Port will open new biometric record kiosks in England at a cost of tens of millions of pounds.
However, the system will now enter into force for only one minority traveler on 12 October and full harmony will not be applied until April 12, 2026.
According to Eurostar and Eurotunnel, the Entry EXIT system [EES] In case of operational failures, the French border officials can be reimbursed.
The newly delayed new system requires fingerprint and photograph of non -EU citizens before entering the EU, with identifiable properties and information held in the Central European database for three years.
Biometry should be collected at the border under the supervision of immigrant officers. Passengers flying to the EU will make new checks about landing at EU airports.
Large queues and delays in arrival have caused concern in the EU – but EES, passengers traveling from the French border controls in the UK tunnel or sea passes have special problems for the transition of channel. This means that the EESS Biometric process should be completed before departure, and on the British side, passengers take place before reaching trains or ferries.
The affected operators welcomed the change to a gradual entry from what Eurotunnel describes as the “big explosion” model.
Eurotunnel, which operates Le Shuttle for motor vehicles for motor vehicles using the tunnel, invested € 80 million in EES infrastructure, including 224 kiosk in new indoor shelters in Folkestone and Calais. Cars will be assigned to park by a kiosk set by NUMBLPlate cameras, and drivers and passengers will have to leave their cars to take photos and scan the fingerprints.
The sending of information is expected to take about two minutes per person. Eurotunnel, the process of the UK’s M20 highway to the French A16 Autoroute’a 90 -minute total journey “minimum effect” claimed.
Yann Lerheche, the General Manager of Eurotunnel, the owner of the Eurotunnel, said that the speed of transition is the “competitive advantage ve and justified the big investment: ız We cannot afford to misunderstand.”
Eurostar and London St Pancras High Speed spent an estimated 10 million pounds, including the DFT subsidies of £ 3.5 million in kiosks at the international train station. Simon Lejeune responsible for the Chief Stations, customers can complete the EES registration within about 10 minutes, he said. Despite the additional bureaucracy, Eurostar will continue to advise passengers to come to the station 75 minutes before the separation of trains.
Dover Harbor, last year at the cost of £ 45 million to the land recovered from the sea, the main ferry port entrance to almost 100 EES Kiosk founded. This means that most vehicles will now have to pass Dover’s Western docks to complete the EES formalities before driving to enter Eastern quays for eastern cross -channel ferries. The harbor also spent 17 million pounds in a shadow in the eastern docks last year for EES, which is now uncertain to its use.
Despite the previous widespread fears, Dover’s port spokesman said: “We are confident [delays won’t be an issue]Because of this area, we created it out of the field. Following these measures will alleviate the effect on traffic approaching the Eastern docks. This is a useful gradual presentation: Tourist traffic continues live after half a term, which is extremely useful. Passengers will understand the process before Christmas and we will continue by Easter in full swing. “
Both Eurotunnel and Dover will start with the coach passengers and load on October 12, and cars will be controlled in Dover from the first November. Eurostar will “invite” to use kiosks for the first few months starting from business and regular travelers.
Despite the close launch, the potential of confusion is clear. Travelers are asked different questions in Eurotunnel and Eurostar Ees kiosks. In the current recurrence of Kiosks in ST PANCRAS, passengers should answer if there are questions that are not asked by the machines in Folkestone if there are accommodation, return tickets, adequate funds and medical or travel insurance.
