Britons planning to travel abroad will need to respond to four inquiries as a new pan-European border system is set to take effect. The long-awaited border system, which has faced multiple delays, will govern travel throughout the entire European Union starting on October 12.
Known as the EES, this system will oversee the movements of “third-country nationals” entering and exiting the Schengen area without the need for traditional passport stamps. Its key aim is to digitize travel documents to ensure compliance with the 90-day rule within a 180-day period for non-EU passport holders, while bolstering border security.
Data will typically be retained for three years, and individuals who refuse to provide information may be denied entry. In addition to biometric data collection and passport scanning, travelers will be required to answer four questions, either through kiosks or border officers, regarding accommodation, return tickets, financial means for the trip, and possession of medical insurance.
The consequences of answering negatively or providing false information are currently unclear. However, passengers who respond negatively to any question may be referred to a border officer and potentially denied entry. Eurostar has introduced kiosks to collect data from British passengers as part of the EES implementation.
There are concerns about potential congestion at ports due to the new system, but early observations at St Pancras suggest these worries may be unfounded. Eurostar and St Pancras have made significant investments in handling the extended border procedures, including the deployment of fast-track kiosks and additional staff for manual processing if needed.
The EES rollout will be phased in at St Pancras and other European ports, with only certain Eurostar customers initially required to use the system from October 12. Biometric data collection, such as fingerprints, will begin in mid-December for specific passengers. By January, all kiosks at St Pancras and Gare du Nord will be operational, and customers will be encouraged to pre-register for border control.
Once registered, travelers will not need to re-register for three years, aiming to expedite border checks by verifying pre-registered data only. Registration is expected to take around two minutes per person, potentially lengthening the border control process for first-time EES users.
In case of any issues, like passport recognition failures, an increased number of human border guards will be on standby for assistance. The number of guard booths has been doubled from nine to 18 to ensure smoother operations.
