Travellers told to brace for delays at Dover and Eurostar as new EU entry-exit system to begin
Travelers and truck drivers have been warned they could face long delays at Dover and the Eurostar when the new EU entry-exit system kicks in on Sunday.
Britons traveling to Europe will be subject to new entry checks from October 12, requiring non-EU citizens to scan their passports, have their fingerprints and photographs taken. The new entry-exit system (EES) will be phased in over the next six months and travelers will need to register when they arrive in the EU.
Border checks at Dover, Eurostar and the Channel Tunnel will be carried out on UK territory. The EES will start on Sunday with buses and HGV drivers, as well as selected passengers at Dover and the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone, as well as on Eurostar.
Travelers have been warned that there may be longer waits at busy times as new systems are introduced, both at border crossings in the UK and upon arrival in the EU. Two emergency areas near Kent have been designated by government officials for passenger vehicles in case of outage.
This includes Lydden Hill racecourse and another venue that is not yet operational.
Government officials do not yet have a definitive list of which European airports will be the first to impose border controls; EU member states are expected to inform airlines.
Independent It identified three countries that would be fully prepared from day one: the Czech Republic, Estonia and Luxembourg.
Spain is expected to apply EES only to a single flight landing at Madrid airport on Sunday.
However, the EU has set a target for each country to register 10 percent of its passengers by the 30th day.
The entry-exit system will connect all border crossing points in the Schengen area (including all EU countries except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland).
UK officials believe countries could make changes and step back if necessary if there are signs of long delays caused by the new plan.
However, travel expert Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, warned on Friday that Britons should allow up to four hours from landing due to delays at European airports.
Referring to busy airports in southern Europe, he said: “This is already a bottleneck; this will compound the problem further. So our advice is to make sure you give yourself three to four hours from the point of entry wherever possible.”
Under the EES, Brits will need to have their fingerprints scanned, have their photo taken, scan their passport and then go to border guards to verify their registration. Officials estimate this will take one to three minutes, but could result in longer wait times.
Travelers may also be asked to answer questions from Border Force officials about whether they have travel insurance, whether they have enough money to support themselves, whether they have return tickets and accommodation.
While EU border guards are already allowed to ask these questions, questioning could become more frequent under the new checks.
Despite warnings that passengers could wait longer to reach their destination, travelers have been told to follow guidelines set by travel operators such as Eurostar and only arrive earlier than usual if advised.
The EU introduced the EES to prevent overstayers and track compliance with the 90-day visa-free travel rule.
Border Security Minister Alex Norris said: “We recognize that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, so we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible.
“The UK and EU have a common goal of securing our borders and these modernization measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration.”
Minister for Aviation, Maritime Affairs and Decarbonisation Keir Mather said: “We have supported our ports and operators with £10.5 million to help them prepare for the EU’s new entry-exit system and ensure they have the infrastructure and systems to manage the changes.
“Our priority is to minimize disruption for passengers and hauliers, especially at our busiest border crossings. We will continue to work closely with European partners and local resilience forums to ensure traffic flows and journeys remain smooth.”
