The EU have announced plans to go-live with the new Entry/Exit System (EES) in November 2024. The EES is a digital border system that will impact those travelling with a UK passport to the Schengen area.
The Schengen area consists of 29 countries, and they are detailed below:
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, and Switzerland.
The new system will cover anyone moving between the two area’s, whether it be for business or pleasure. There are a set of EES exclusions, and they can be found by clicking here.
The EES will replace the current system of stamping passports upon arrival in the EU. Instead, biometric details will be recorded, including the taking of fingerprints or a photograph.
A potential choke point has been identified at the Port of Dover, with 24 kiosks added for passengers to register. Entry to EU countries will not be granted if the required information is not provided, and freight delays are likely, especially when the EES is first rolled out.
Please contact your local office to discuss any concerns you have, and the team will be on hand to assist with any queries. And for all of the latest AGI news, don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook!
Source: The UK Government website.