29 European Countries Implement New Travel Rules from Friday
A total of 29 European Union countries are set to implement the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) starting Friday, April 10. This significant change will affect British passport holders and other third-country nationals traveling to Europe, introducing new entry requirements that replace traditional passport stamping in most participating nations.
New Biometric Registration Requirements
Under the new system, all third-country nationals, including British travelers, will be required to register their details on hi-tech machines at border crossings. During their first visit to a Schengen area country, travelers must hand over biometric information, including fingerprints and facial recognition data. This requirement also applies to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, which are part of the Schengen agreement but not EU members.
Manual passport stamping will continue to be used in Ireland and Cyprus, which are not participating in the initial rollout of the EES system. The Entry/Exit System was originally introduced in October with a phased launch approach, arriving years later than initially planned, and its implementation has varied significantly across different European border points.
Operational Challenges and Passenger Delays
At several major airports, including Lisbon and Brussels, passengers have already experienced hours of delays as border officials insist on completing the new biometric checks. The system has created significant bottlenecks at some border crossings, with reports of queues lasting up to four hours at certain locations.
Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Europe's largest airline Ryanair, has been particularly critical of the implementation, describing the EES as "a s*** show and a shambles" and suggesting it represents punishment for Brexit. Other airports have installed the necessary equipment but have yet to activate the systems, creating inconsistency in the traveler experience across Europe.
Industry Response and Mitigation Efforts
Trade organizations A4E (representing most large European airlines) and ACI Europe (representing airports) issued a joint statement this week highlighting "persistent operational challenges" with the EES rollout. They have predicted that passengers will face increasing delays, particularly during the busy Easter travel period.
Eurostar has confirmed it is "working closely with the French and EU authorities as they continue to introduce the next stages of the system." The rail service has added extra lanes at border crossings and noted that enrollments are currently being completed manually by French border officers at London St Pancras station. Their focus remains "in line with the authorities' priority to maintain border fluidity as the rollout progresses."
Complete List of Participating Countries
The 29 countries implementing the Entry/Exit System from Friday include:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Travelers planning trips to these destinations should prepare for additional processing time at borders and ensure they understand the new registration requirements before departure.
