Latest news with #EuropeTravelVisa
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Dreaded new border entry for Brits travelling to Europe will start in under THREE MONTHS – and the price has trebled
A SET date has been announced for the introduction of the new EU entry-exit system. The Advertisement 4 The EU's entry-exit system (EES) is now set to start on October 12, 2025 Credit: Getty 4 EES will help to identify any suspected criminals and to limit travellers to 90 days of stays, in any 180 day period Credit: Getty This is likely to cause chaos for those travelling towards the end of the year as holidaymakers will need to have their biometrics and fingerprints registered. With the date finally announced for the scheme's introduction, some Brits heading away for the October half-term holidays may be required to give their fingerprints and facial biometrics. The scheme is being introduced to digitise border crossings across the EES will also help to identify any suspected criminals and to limit travellers to 90 days of stays, in any 180 day period. Advertisement Read more on travel tips Whilst the EU initially planned to introduce the scheme all at once, their website now confirms: " "This means your data may not be collected at every border crossing point right away." Therefore, between the initial start date of October 12 and the scheme's completed implementation date of April 9, 2026, travellers are likely to experience different processes at different borders. For example, at some crossing points travellers may need to give their biometrics - whilst at others, they may not need to straight away. Advertisement Most read in News Travel The website adds: "From 10 April 2026, the EES will be fully operational at all external border crossings of the European countries using the system." The New EU entry-exit system and EuropeTravel Visa (ETIAS) explained Once operational, the EES will store four of your fingerprints and your facial image. Currently, though, children under the age of 12 will not have their fingerprints scanned. In addition, Brits will also have their passports inspected and stamped until the roll-out is fully complete, according to Advertisement The EU has also confirmed that And now, the fee for this is expected to The travel authorisation will be an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to 30 European countries. 4 The fee for ETIAS travel authorisation has also risen Credit: Alamy Advertisement It will be linked to a traveller's passport and be valid for up to three years or until the With ETIAS travel authorisation, Brits will be able to enter 30 European countries as often as they like for On the Those exempt from the fee include travellers under 18-years-old or over 70-years old. Advertisement The Sun's Head of Travel explains what the EES means for you THE Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained everything you need to know about the upcoming EES. The looming introduction of the long-delayed European Entry Exit System could lead to yet more pain for passengers leaving the UK. The new system - designed to strengthen the European borders - will require every passenger to have their biometrics recorded. Every traveller will have to scan their passport and have a facial biometric before providing prints from the four fingers on their right hand. Children under 12 will have to do the biometric but will not have to have their fingerprints taken. All will then have to answer four questions about their reason for travel. Both fingerprints and facial biometrics will be required the first time a traveller uses the system, and then just one of the two for every subsequent trip. Then every three years you'll be expected to go through the full process again. While airports across Europe have the space to add this additional process it is still going to add a huge amount of extra time to the customs checks. Although it will remove the need to have stamps in your passport, everything will still need to be checked either by a border officer or an e-gate. Where things could get really bad are at ports like Dover - where there are significant space constraints and multiple individuals will be travelling together in cars and coaches. Both Eurostar and Le Shuttle have invested millions in new facilities to process passengers but it is almost inevitable that the first few months of the system could lead to lengthy delays as we all get used to the new system. Major new airport rules are also set to make travelling to Europe much easier. Plus, two UK airports have finally 4 EES will be rolled out gradually with a completion date of April 9, 2026 Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Another European country to allow Brits to use much faster airport e-gates
GERMANY will let UK passport holders use e-gates at its airports this summer. It has been announced that some travellers will be allowed to use the automatic gates rather than go through lengthy passport control from August. Advertisement 4 Germany will allow regular flyers from the UK to use the airport e-gates Credit: Alamy 4 In certain countries Brits have to queue for passport control Credit: Alamy In July, the Cabinet Office announced that Germany will allow some UK airline passengers to use passport e-gates at its airports by the end of August. But the use of e-gates for all UK passengers will be possible once Germany has completed updates to its entry systems. This is part of the introduction of the The deal to let some passengers use the e-gates forms part of a treaty signed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Advertisement Since Brexit, UK travellers arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped rather than use the automated gates. The result has led to frustrated passengers and generally long queues - especially during the busy summer holidays. The issue has been described as one of the most visible impacts of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "E-gates can make the slog of travelling through an airport that bit easier, which is why I have been working with the EU and member states to get more airports opened up to Brits abroad. Advertisement Most read in News Travel "With £30 billion of services trade between the UK and the EU, this agreement isn't just good for holidaymakers, it's good for British businesses too, making travelling easier between Europe's biggest economies, to get deals done and boost growth." The New EU entry-exit system and EuropeTravel Visa (ETIAS) explained 4 The summer and Christmas holidays can be the worst times for wait times Credit: Alamy However, more and more countries have allowed Brits to use e-gates since Brexit in 2020. As of this year, 48 locations, including some major Advertisement In June 2025, Sofia Airport in Faro Airport, which connects the UK with the Not only has next year. Here's more on the Advertisement But here's a recent blow to Full list of destinations allowing Brits to use e-gates Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris Orly Airport Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg Marseille Provence Airport Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport Nice Airport Eurostar Paris Gare du Nord Terminal Eurostar London St Pancras Terminal Eurotunnel Folkestone Terminal Eurotunnel Calais Terminal Port of Calais Alicante Mallorca Tenerife Lanzarote Gran Canaria Ibiza Naples Airport Rome Fiumicino Airport Rome Ciampino Airport Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport Venice Marco Polo Airport Cagliari Airport Milan Malpensa Airport Milan Linate Airport Bari Airport Brindisi Airport Bergamo Airport Treviso Airport Verona Villafranca Airport Florence Airport Pisa International Airport Turin Airport Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport Catania Airport Palermo Airport Lisbon Airport Terminal 1 Faro Airport Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (exit only) Larnaca International Airport Paphos International Airport Brussels airport Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport Dublin airport Prague airport Terminal 1 Helsinki airport Sofia airport 4 Germany will allow certain passengers to use its e-gates Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
31-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
UK holidaymakers will be fingerprinted each time they visit EU – with lengthy checks taking 6 minutes
Scroll to see if you will be affected NEW RULES UK holidaymakers will be fingerprinted each time they visit EU – with lengthy checks taking 6 minutes BRITS heading to Europe this year will face lengthy checks as fingerprinting is issued each time they cross the border. The manual ID checks will be rolled out in November and affect thousands of motorists driving from the UK to Europe. Advertisement 1 Brits could face delays when crossing the border Credit: PA Those driving across the border will be asked to get out of their vehicle to be photographed and fingerprinted, adding up to six minutes to journey times. The big change will be phased in from November and will see "significant infrastructure" being built to support the thousands of people getting out of cars and buses. Operators say the system is a way of getting rid of stamping passports and keeping visitors' information digitally recorded. The manual checks come as Dover waits for the launch of an app being developed by Frontex, the European border agency. Advertisement Read more on Travel BLOW BY BLOW My son was called an idiot when cocaine fell out passport… but he was SET UP The app will eventually minimise queues and won't require passengers' to get out of their vehicles. Border control will be given a tablet which they will pass through cars to verify individuals' identity. But according to Doug Bannister, the chief executive of the Port of Dover, the app won't be ready "any time before November". This means second, third, fourth time travellers still need to have a biometric captured at the border, he told The Guardian. Advertisement This comes as the UK government confirmed a new deal that will allow UK holidaymakers to use the much faster e-gates when visiting Europe. The talks mean Brits can join other EU tourists in the shorter queues. The New EU entry-exit system and EuropeTravel Visa (ETIAS) explained The Prime Minister said: "We will be and are pressing to get on with this straight away. "Because for holiday makers wanting to get out this summer, they will want to know that they can do so easily, without delay and chaos." Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to see the deal done "as soon as possible" claiming there was now no "inhibition" to it getting done. Advertisement He said: "Today's deal will also help British holidaymakers, confirming that they will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues at passport control. "And I call on all EU members to help make this a reality without delay.' The government said: "British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control." Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, added: "This is excellent news for British holidaymakers and will enable an even smoother passenger experience for families travelling to the EU."
The Irish Sun
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
UK holidaymakers will be fingerprinted each time they visit EU – with lengthy checks taking 6 minutes
BRITS heading to Europe this year will face lengthy checks as fingerprinting is issued each time they cross the border. The 1 Brits could face delays when crossing the border Credit: PA Those driving across the border will be asked to get out of their vehicle to be photographed and fingerprinted, adding up to six minutes to journey times. The big change will be phased in from November and will see "significant infrastructure" being built to support the thousands of people getting out of cars and buses. Operators say the system is a way of getting rid of stamping passports and keeping visitors' information digitally recorded. The manual checks come as Dover waits for the launch of an app being developed by Frontex, the European border agency. Read more on Travel The app will eventually minimise queues and won't require passengers' to get out of their vehicles. Border control will be given a tablet which they will pass through cars to verify individuals' identity. But according to Doug Bannister, the chief executive of the Port of Dover, the app won't be ready "any time before November". This means second, third, fourth time travellers still need to have a biometric captured at the border, he told Most read in News Travel This comes as the The talks mean Brits can join other EU tourists in the shorter queues. The New EU entry-exit system and EuropeTravel Visa (ETIAS) explained The Prime Minister said: "We will be and are pressing to get on with this straight away. "Because for holiday makers wanting to get out this summer, they will want to know that they can do so easily, without delay and chaos." Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to see the deal done "as soon as possible" claiming there was now no "inhibition" to it getting done. He said: "Today's deal will also help British holidaymakers, confirming that they will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues at passport control. "And I call on all EU members to help make this a reality without delay.' The government said: "British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control." Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, added: "This is excellent news for British holidaymakers and will enable an even smoother passenger experience for families travelling to the EU."
