EES Delay Should Make Holidaymakers Happy

Holidaymakers travelling to Europe this summer will be spared the anticipated longer queues at European borders, after the EU announced a delay to the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES).

The new EES delay – which was predicted in the November 2022 edition of IDN – will require travellers from outside the bloc to record their photos and scan their fingerprints. The system was due to be introduced in May but has now been pushed back until at least the end of the year.

The news will be welcomed by British holidaymakers, in particular, who are booking overseas trips in record numbers after nearly three years of COVID-hit travel.

It also comes as Brexit talks between the UK and EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, with hopes of a deal by the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April.

Problems to solve

Reacting to the EES delay, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said there were issues with the programme that needed to be addressed to ensure holidays were not adversely affected.

A spokesperson for the association said: ‘The EES system will be a game-changer for EU border management.

‘There are, however, a number of issues that need to be resolved to ensure a smooth deployment and operation of the new system so that air passengers do not face disruption.

‘Postponing implementation past the busy summer 2023 period will give airlines, airports, EU and national authorities the opportunity to address these issues and ensure the system is fully tested.’ 

What is the EES?

The EES will be an automated registration system for non-EU travellers who don’t require a visa to enter the EU.

Travellers will need to scan their passports or other travel document at a self-service kiosk each time they cross an EU external border. It will not apply to legal residents or those with long stay visas.

The system will register the traveller’s name, biometric data, and the date and place of entry and exit. Facial scans and fingerprint data will be retained for three years after each trip.

It will apply when entering all EU member states, apart from Cyprus and Ireland, as well as four non-EU countries in the Schengen Area – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The EES is being introduced to bolster border security and identify travellers who overstay their permitted time in the Schengen Area (90 days within a 180 day period).

ETIAS still on track

The EES is connected to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This new scheme obligates non-EU citizens who do not require an EU visa to gain travel authorisation to enter the bloc. The visa waiver will be mandatory for anyone wishing to visit the Schengen Area short term.

ETIAS is still set to be operational from November 2023 as planned. An implementation period of six months is expected, meaning it may not be mandatory immediately. A second grace period of six months may also be considered after that.

Travellers will be able to apply for ETIAS online before their trip at a cost of €7. Once approved, the electronic travel authorisation will be electronically linked to their passport. The ETIAS authorisation will last for three years (after which it will need to be renewed for future visits), or until the holder’s passport expires (whichever is sooner).

The ETIAS system is similar to the ESTA system for travel to the USA, where visitors pay a one-off fee (currently $21) for a travel authorisation which lasts for two years.