Latest news with #passportcontrol
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
E-gates to grant Britons quick entry to European hotspot
Faro Airport in Portugal has begun rolling out e-gate access for British arrivals, according to the UK Government. Downing Street anticipates that millions of British holidaymakers will benefit from this technology, following an agreement between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU leaders last month. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said that the deal "makes life easier for holidaymakers." The Prime Minister's spokesman noted that this was a significant development for British holidaymakers, as Faro Airport is a popular destination. Since Brexit, UK nationals have been unable to use e-gates in most Schengen area countries, leading to potential delays at passport control.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Airport chaos forces British families to 'lift children on to shoulders to stop them suffocating' amid 'inhuman' conditions as hundreds are trapped in overcrowded passport control in Tenerife
Airport chaos forced British families to 'lift children onto their shoulders to stop them suffocating' after hundreds of holidaymakers were trapped in an overcrowded passport control in Tenerife. Officials called an emergency meeting after passengers raged at the 'inhumane' conditions that saw them packed together 'like cattle' as they waited in line on Monday. The nightmare unfolded after several UK flights arrived in quick succession and caused severe delays. More than 500 people were left waiting for over two hours in sweltering conditions, as just two passport control booths staffed by four officers attempted to process the entire crowd, according to Canarian Weekly. Lourdes Torrecillas, a Tenerife resident returning from Bristol, described the situation as 'claustrophobic' and 'third world'. She told local media that passengers were made to wait 45 minutes on the plane before being allowed to disembark to passport control, only to find the airport's escalators out of service. 'Families with babies and elderly passengers had to carry their children and luggage through a packed terminal. 'Once inside, we couldn't move our arms, we could barely breathe, and people were sweating. Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating,' she said. 'There were no toilets, and people were visibly distressed.' Ms Torrecillas, who frequently travels to the UK, said the conditions were unacceptable, adding: 'This was an inhumane wait. 'These are people who've paid to enjoy a few days of sunshine, they shouldn't be treated like cattle.' She also raised concerns about the lack of medical support, claiming that airport staff told her similar scenes occur nearly every night - with passengers regularly fainting or experiencing serious health problems while waiting. The President of Tenerife's ruling council, Rosa Dávila, has called an emergency meeting following the incident, with chaos often ensuing during peak tourism periods. Dávila called the situation 'unacceptable' but blamed it on the continued failure to provide sufficient staff for border checks ever since the UK left the European Union. She added: 'This is a structural issue. We can't continue to operate with the same staffing levels we had pre-Brexit.' A major issue facing travellers on Monday was the inability of the airport's automated checking systems to check children's passports. This lead to families having to queue with children and baggage for hours before they could being their holidays. Dávila said she had written to mainland politicians, but received no satisfactory response. 'There's a serious lack of respect towards Tenerife. We're managing essential services locally, but without state support, we're being left to fail,' she said. Lope Afonso, Tenerife's Tourism Minister, warned: 'This is the first impression our visitors get. After hours on a plane, they're met with long waits and no explanation. It's not acceptable, and it's hurting our brand as a quality tourist destination,' he said. 'Tenerife competes globally. Other countries have adapted their systems since Brexit. Why haven't we?' He also had a warning for summer travellers, if mainland politicians don't take action, saying: 'We need immediate solutions to avoid this happening again, especially with the busy summer season ahead.'
Khaleej Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Pakistanis deported from UAE, GCC nations to have passports cancelled
Passports of Pakistanis deported from the UAE, GCC, Europe and other countries will be cancelled upon arrival in the country. This was announced following a meeting of Pakistan's Ministry of Interior, chaired by federal interior minister Mohsin Naqvi. Government-owned news channel PTV reported that the meeting was held in the capital Islamabad where it was decided that the first information report (FIR) will be lodged against people deported from other countries and their passports will also be cancelled. Moreover, their names will also be placed on the passport control list for five years, putting restrictions on them to travel abroad. This decision was taken after some countries reported nationals of the South Asian country engaging in activities that contravened the resident country's laws and regulations. Thousands of people were deported from the Gulf and European countries — including over 5,000 from Saudi Arabia — for illegal stays and their involvement in beggary. A committee has been formed at the federal level which will look into the affairs. There are millions of Pakistanis living and working in foreign countries, mainly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Europe, the US, Australia, Malaysia and others. Last week, Pakistani citizens in UAE were warned about fraudulent employment schemes abroad. The missions in the UAE asked job seekers to exercise caution when applying to online job advertisements offered abroad. In an interview with Khaleej Times last year, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan's ambassador to the UAE, asked his compatriots to avoid looking for jobs when they come to the UAE on a tourist visa as well as meet the visit visa requirements, such as hotel accommodation, return tickets, and sufficient funds.
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Britons will not be able to use e-gates in EU until October at earliest
British tourists will have to endure passport-stamping queues in the EU until at least October and possibly well into 2026 despite a high profile e-gates agreement unveiled at Monday's EU-UK summit in London, it has emerged. According to the detailed text of the agreement, both the UK and the EU agree there will be 'no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals travelling to and from EU member states after the introduction of the EU entry/sxit system (EES)'. But the government has conceded that is not being implemented until October and even then will only be phased in over six months until April 2026, meaning continued queueing for British holidaymakers. Keir Starmer, the prime minister, told MPs on Tuesday that along with the recently negotiated US and India deals, the EU agreement formed a 'hat-trick' of pacts, which proved 'Britain was back on the world stage'. He argued that the move to allow British travellers to use European e-gates was one of the core elements of the deal. 'This partnership helps British holidaymakers, who will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues at passport control,' he said. A day before, he said he hoped this would happen 'as soon as possible'. The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) has said it is clear the deal 'won't impact this summer' and it would also rely on confirmation from EU member states when 'wet stamping' of passports would end. At the moment in some airports, notably in Portugal, British visitors are already allowed to use e-gates but they still have to get their passports stamped because of Brexit restrictions that limit visa-free visits to the EU to 180 days a year and 90 days at a time. Luke Petherbridge, the director of public affairs at Abta, said: 'We believe there are three different scenarios of how EU countries allow UK citizens to use e-gates. The first being no access is allowed at all, the second being occasional access might be granted at the border official's discretion and the third will be some who allow it all of the time. In terms of the second and third scenario, you'll still need to have your passport stamped as that's what monitors how long you've been in the country. However, this could change once EES is introduced.' Starmer said on Monday he had 'urged EU member states' to allow Britons to use e-gates as soon as possible. 'We will be pressing hard on that. There's no inhibition now on this, so I want to see it done quickly.' Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, accused him of promising more than the agreement actually delivered. 'The prime minister is boasting that we will now avoid airport queues because we will get access to EU e-gates,' she said. 'It sounds great, except it is not true; some airports already allow that, and this deal does not guarantee it anywhere, as each country still has to agree.' Sources close to the government said even with passport stamping access to e-gates would be a huge improvement as it would separate British from other third country nationals, who need visas checked, something that can add hours to a journey in busy hotspots such as Rome, Paris and Madrid. 'The biggest impacts will be felt when wet stamping is removed, but in the mean time opening up e-gates will still help, giving UK citizens more options at ports and helping fluidity,' said one government insider. A spokesperson for the European Commission said the introduction of the EES 'will open the possibility to use e-gates for all non-EU citizens, including UK citizens. This will contribute to fluidity at borders for both entry and exit.' The Spanish government has confirmed that British travellers will be able to use electronic gates at Spanish airports once the system is up and running. 'When the EU orders the entry/exit border control system to begin operating, British citizens will be able to use electronic entry points as long as they have a valid travel document, such as a passport,' said a source at the interior ministry. Under the new EES system, EU member states will require non-EU visitors, business or leisure, to provide biometric data including fingerprints and facial images entering the Schengen area. Each visit after that will verify the biometrics and 'if your digital file is clear of any impediments to travel, you will usually not need to go via a passport control officer'. The system is not currently in operation, and airports and ports including Dover and Folkestone Eurotunnel will have scanning systems in place once the EES is given the green light. The system has already been delayed three times amid concerns the new system would cause delays at the Olympics in Paris last year and issues with an EU database. There were also technical issues with each member state's system for interfacing with the agency eu-Lisa, which manages the technology and databases for the bloc in relation to free movement, security and justice. Ultimately all travel in the EU will be digitally controlled with an electronic visa waiver system, Etias, pencilled in for the last quarter of next year and long-term plans for digital passports similar to those already operational in Ukraine's DIIA app.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
'You ain't seen nothing yet!': Former UK borders chief warns lengthy queues at EU airports will be WORSE for Brits despite Keir Starmer claiming victory on e-gates as part of his 'reset'
Britons face even longer waits at EU airports in the coming months, a former borders chief said today - despite the PM claiming his Brexit 'reset' will end huge queues. Tony Smith, who was previously director general of UK Border Force, warned about the looming impact of new entry requirments being imposed by Brussels. 'If you think the queues are bad now - you ain't seen nothing yet,' he said of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which is set to belatedly come into force in October. Mr Smith issued the alert as he dismissed Sir Keir Starmer 's efforts to allow British holidaymakers to use e-gates across the EU as part of his 'reset' deal with the bloc. After a UK-EU summit in London, the PM claimed his wide-ranging agreement with Brussels would include Britons being 'able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe'. Sir Keir said this would 'end those huge queues at passport control' as he hailed his 'common sense' deal with the EU. But the PM also aknowledged that, while a blanket ban is being lifted, it will be down to individual EU countries to implement. 'I urge EU member states now to do it and we will be pressing hard on that… there's no inhibition on this so I want to see it done quickly,' he added. Mr Smith suggested Brits being able to use e-gates on the Continent would make little difference unless it was accompanied by further work to ease the impact of EES. He called for more detail about ministers' efforts to mitigate the effects of the EU's new border measures, adding: 'If there's no movement on that, e-gates won't help.' Speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the PM claimed his wide-ranging agreement with Brussels would include Britons being able to use e-gates EES will be an automated IT system for registering travellers from non-EU countries, including the UK, each time they cross a border into or out of the EU. When it comes into force in October, travellers will need to scan their passports at an automated self-service kiosk prior to crossing the border. This will replace the current manual stamping of passports for visitors to Europe's borderless Schengen area who are not nationals of EU or Schengen countries. The system will register the person's name, type of travel document, biometric data (such as fingerprints) and the date and place of entry and exit. It is likely that British travellers will have their fingerprints and facial images taken the first time they cross a border into the EU, once the new system is in operation. There are fears this will cause huge queues at EU airports, as well as delays at Dover, Folkestone and London's St Pancras station, where French border checks are carried out before people embark on cross-Channel journeys. Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at travel trade organisation Abta, said: 'It is vital we continue to see good co-operation between the UK and EU on the introduction of this scheme, to make it as streamlined as possible for UK travellers.' As part of the UK-EU deal reached at London's Lancaster House, it was agreed that Britain and Brussels will 'continue their exchanges on smooth border management for the benefit of their citizens, including the potential use of eGates where appropriate'. A document outlining the agreement added: 'They note that EU citizens can use e-gates in the UK and that there will be no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals traveling to and from EU member states after the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said the announcement was 'a significant breakthrough for British travellers'. She added: 'The frustrating experience of lengthy border control queues upon arrival has been a persistent challenge for many, so the expanded access to e-gates across Europe comes as a tremendous relief. 'With this streamlined system in place, we anticipate both holidaymakers and business travellers will enjoy a much smoother, more efficient airport experience, allowing them to begin their journeys without unnecessary delays.' Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said: 'This is excellent news for British holidaymakers and will enable an even smoother passenger experience for families travelling to the EU.' The Government also announced that UK cats and dogs will be able to travel 'more easily' by 'eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip'. This is through the introduction of so-called 'pet passports'.
