Rules for Travel to Europe are About to Change

[IslandThyme]

I'm hoping there's no paywall on this link, Soon we will be subject to EES and ETIAS. https://www.thelocal.fr/20211110/passport-scans-and-e7-fee-what-will-change-for-eu-travel-in-2022 

[Host Jazzbeau]

You realize that this didn't happen in 2022.  Or in 2023.  Or in 2024.  Now they say it will happen in 2025, but no date set and no way to apply yet.

https://etias.com

 

[IslandThyme]

The EES is set to happen this November. Are you thinking that it will be postponed?

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, IslandThyme said:

The EES is set to happen this November. Are you thinking that it will be postponed?

Have no idea what it is.

[IslandThyme]

This is from the link I posted - were you not able to see it?

 

1: EES - Entry/Exit System

This doesn't change anything in terms of the visas or documents required for travel, or the rights of travellers, but it does change how the EU's and Schengen area's external borders are policed.

It's essentially a security upgrade, replacing the current system that relies on border guards with stamps with an electronic swipe in/swipe out system that will register more details such as immigration status.

When - after repeated delays we finally have a confirmed start date for this - it will begin on Sunday, November 10th, 2024, the European Commission says.

Where - this is for the EU and Schengen area's external borders, so doesn't apply if you are travelling between France and Germany for example, but would apply if you enter any EU or Schengen zone country from a non-EU country eg crossing from the UK to France via Channel Tunnel or flying into Germany from the US.

What - Travellers will need to scan their passports or other travel document at an automated kiosk each time they cross an EU external border. It will not apply to EU citizens, foreign residents of EU countries or those with long stay visas.

In detail: Who is exempt from EES passport checks

When non-EU travellers first enter the Schengen/EU area they will need to register their name, biometric data (fingerprints and facial scans) and the date and place of entry and exit. Data will be retained for three years after initial registration.

Exactly how this data is collected varies slightly depending on your method of travel - for example the UK's Port of Dover envisions passing an iPad around each car, allowing passengers to enter their details without exiting the car, while the Channel Tunnel terminals will have drive-through areas for passengers to input data.

Many airports and stations of course already have biometric passport scanners but they're only checking that your passport is valid and the photo matches your face.

The EES system also calculates how long you can stay within the EU, based on your rights of residency or your 90-day allowance, and also checks whether your passport has ever been flagged for immigration offences such as overstaying a visa.

Who - this is for non-EU nationals who are entering the EU as a visitor (rather than residents). The system scans your passport and will tell you how long you can stay for (based on the 90-allowance or the visa linked to the passport).

What about residents? Non EU nationals who live in an EU country and have a national residency card such as a carte de séjour in France or a TIE in Spain are not affected by this, since they have the right to unlimited stays within their country of residence.

We asked the European Commission how the system works for residents and were told: "The Entry/Exit System will not apply to non-EU citizens holding a residence document or a residence permit. Their personal data will not be registered in the Entry/Exit System.

"It is enough if holders of such documents present them to the border guards to prove their status."

The Commission later clarified that non-EU citizens who are resident in an EU country are not required to complete EES pre-registrations and should not use eGates or automatic scanners, but should instead head to the queue with an in-person guard (if available) where they can show both their passport and residency document.

However there's no suggestion those with permanent residency will lose their right of residency if they do go through the automatic gates when entering the EU because their residency status is guaranteed - as long as they can prove it with their permit. Although they could face the inconvenience of a few extra questions next time they travel.

What does this actually change?

Apart from a more high-tech process at the border (and potentially big queues in Dover) there are likely to be two main effects of this.

For non-EU nationals who have residency in an EU country it could mean the end of the rather inconsistent process of passport stamping, which has been a particular issue for Brits since Brexit, with wildly inconsistent official practices by border guards that have frustrated many British residents of the EU and left them with incorrect stamps in their passports.

For visitors to the EU this tightens up application of the 90-day rule. It doesn't change the rule itself, but means that anyone attempting to over-stay or 'play' the system will instantly be spotted.

The European Commission's other stated aim is security, making it easier to spot security risks at the border. 

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, said: "With the Entry/Exit System we will know exactly who enters the Schengen area with a foreign passport. We will know if people stay too long, countering irregular migration. And the Entry/Exit System will make it harder for criminals, terrorists or Russian spies to use fake passports thanks to biometric identification, photos and fingerprints."

Will there be delays for non-EU travellers?

Several EU countries have raised fears about this, with the UK-France border a likely pressure point due to large numbers of travellers and limited processing space at ports like Dover, while budget airline Ryanair has also raised concerns about the implementation. 

Part of the reason for the delayed start dates is to iron out potential problems. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

So it sounds like EES is a one-time registration of biometric data, after which entry to the Schengen zone is likely to be faster once the camera identifies you [like Global Entry v2].  And unless your first entry after implementation is via a Channel ferry, even that isn't going to be much different than the current meeting with a border guard.  So – a nothing burger.  [Full disclosure: the best thing that ever happened to my iPhone was when they added facial recognition – now signing in is fast and error-free.  So I look forward to EES.]

 

And I hope I live long enough for ETIAS to finally be implemented...

[Catchum]

EES Something similar in operation when we travelled to Italy last month. First pass through egates then get passport stamped. So not a rule change just an different procedure at immigration. 

 

ETAIS when it finally arrives, no date set, is ment to work like the US ESTA. Apply on line, instant confirmation, cost €7, good for three years, and 180 days after it is introduced before it is compulsory. 

 

 

[uktog]

For most people the EES will mean little difference, every year the ETAIS gets pushed back but when it comes in, for us, it’s no different than we already have for coming to the USA or Canada. Yes another authorisation to get and watch the expiry of. At least they are planning to have the validity for 5 years and the cost lower as Canada extends to us and not the 2 year higher cost of the USA. 
 

[fruitmachine]

5 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

So it sounds like EES is a one-time registration of biometric data, after which entry to the Schengen zone is likely to be faster once the camera identifies you [like Global Entry v2].  And unless your first entry after implementation is via a Channel ferry, even that isn't going to be much different than the current meeting with a border guard.  So – a nothing burger.  [Full disclosure: the best thing that ever happened to my iPhone was when they added facial recognition – now signing in is fast and error-free.  So I look forward to EES.]

 

And I hope I live long enough for ETIAS to finally be implemented...

Not quite one-time, as the data is only retained for three years.

 

But the main purpose of EES is to record entry and exit electronically in a single EU-wide database rather than  distributed across millions of passports with no more than a series of rubber stamps in them.  With that data they can check every passenger's eligibility at both entry and exit.  At the moment, that's done randomly by an immigration officer physically checking the previous stamps and calculating the days, a tedious process (especially if you're a frequent short-stay traveller) that they tend to only do if they are targeting you.

[TJR_0323]

Note - People younger than 18 and 70 or over will still need to obtain the authorisation - however, they are exempt from the €7 fee, which applies to the other ages, for application.

[Tsunami74]

On 8/20/2024 at 3:17 AM, fruitmachine said:

 

 

But the main purpose of EES is to record entry and exit electronically in a single EU-wide database rather than  distributed across millions of passports with no more than a series of rubber stamps in them.  

Does anyone know (I cannot find it on any information web) if Americans will need to have EES when transporting through an airport in a Schengen country and not leaving the airport.

We plan to fly to UK through Reykavik in July. We will not stay in Iceland.

Iceland would be our first  Schengen country, and if we have to que to apply we probably would miss our connection.

 

[Belfastman]

12 minutes ago, Tsunami74 said:

Does anyone know (I cannot find it on any information web) if Americans will need to have EES when transporting through an airport in a Schengen country and not leaving the airport.

We plan to fly to UK through Reykavik in July. We will not stay in Iceland.

Iceland would be our first  Schengen country, and if we have to que to apply we probably would miss our connection.

 

I believe that you will require EES when entering Iceland as it is required for all non-EU passport holders when you first enter a Schengen country.

[fruitmachine]

41 minutes ago, Tsunami74 said:

Does anyone know (I cannot find it on any information web) if Americans will need to have EES when transporting through an airport in a Schengen country and not leaving the airport.

We plan to fly to UK through Reykavik in July. We will not stay in Iceland.

Iceland would be our first  Schengen country, and if we have to que to apply we probably would miss our connection.

 

Standard procedure is that you don't cross the border, so no EES registration required, but to achieve that your booking needs to be on a single ticket and your bags checked straight through. 

[Cruise Junky]

Hmmmm. We sail from Spain on the November 11th but towards the end of our 10 day cruise we visit Morocco and then back to Spain and Portugal. This could be interesting.