What is the EU’s new border system EES
Katy AustinTransport correspondent
BBCThe next time you travel from England to Europe, you may notice some changes.
The EU’s multi -delayed new digital border system, the input/output system or EES will be introduced slowly in this autumn.
The system is to strengthen security and ultimately make travel smoother, but there are concerns that people may cause long queues when they first register.
What is EES and where is it introduced?
EES is a digital system designed to follow the non -EU citizens entering and leaving the Schengen region.
This covers 29 European countries – mainly in the EU – Which member citizens can travel freely without border controls?.
It includes many popular destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece for the travelers of England.
At the end of EES, it will replace the existing system that requires the control and stigmatization of individual passports by a border officer.
When will EES start?
After postponing several times, the European Commission confirmed that EES will start on 12 October in July. It will gradually become stage for more than six months.
In Dover, the coach passengers will begin to use the new system on October 12 and then follow the other tourism traffic on November 1.
EES will be introduced more slowly at Eurostar terminals.
As of October 12, only a small number of business stresses will be invited to use the new system. More passengers will be directed to use in the following months.
Eurotunnel, which provides vehicle services from the channel tunnel, is waiting to introduce EES at stages as of October 12th.
EES should be active in every Schengen Border Crossing point in 29 participants until April 10, 2026.
What will passengers have to do under EES?
When they first use the new system, people from most non -EU countries, including England, will have to save biometric information while scanning their passports.
This can be done with a border officer depending on where people go.
Flight passengers will register when they arrive at the Arrival Airport.
However, if you pass the British channel by ferry from Dover Port, take the Eurotunnel shuttle to France or take the Eurostar train, you will be registered when leaving the UK.
In these places, passengers will have to follow the instructions in the kiosks – automatic machines that are installed in private areas.
The machines scan each passport, then take fingerprints and a photo.
Children under the age of 12 will not have to give fingerprints. The staff should be ready to help.
The screen of the machine will also offer travelers about four questions about where they will stay and confirm where they have enough money.
Eurostar 49 Ees Kiosk Wood In three areas of London St Pancras Terminal. Passengers will use their tickets before offering the departure area.
However, he says that all passports will continue to be stigmatized manually until the EES is completely released in 2026.
Channel tunnel vehicle services run the Eurotunnel, both sides wearing more than a hundred kiosk.
A mobile phone application has been developed to allow passengers to make a part of the process before reaching the border. However, this will not be widely used when EES is first introduced.
The EES record will be valid for three years and the details will be verified on every trip that period.
What are the concerns about the promotion of EES?
The concerns that the time to complete the registration process may lead to large queues in space -limited Dover.
Dover Port had previously planned to provide ferry passengers to give tablet devices to register into their vehicles. However, a source told BBC that Dover is now planning to use kiosks.
In the first transition period, if the queues are too long, the port can temporarily stop EES and manually return. Passport stamp.
Eurostar hopes that the decision to limit EES to some business travelers will help to avoid important queues.
What is Etias and when is this coming?
The EU also offers a new visa waiver system connected to passports called European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) to be built on EES.
Citizens of non -EU countries that do not need a visa to enter the EU – Including people from the UK – you can apply online for authorization before traveling.
Etias will not start until the end of 2026, but the deadline has not yet been approved.
It will cost € 20 per application and will be valid for three years.
People over the age of 18 and 70 will have to apply, but will not have to pay.
