New Law Mandates Fingerprint Scans for Travellers Visiting EU Countries: France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Italy
Under the new system, individuals crossing EU borders must scan their passports and other travel documents at self-service kiosks. This process will record their name, travel document type, fingerprints, facial images, and the date and place of entry and exit.
The government has indicated that non-EE or Schengen citizens who do not require a visa to enter the EU will have their fingerprints and pictures collected during their first border crossing. For data protection reasons, this information will be deleted three years after their last trip to the EES area.
On the other hand, Visa holders will not need to provide their fingerprints, as they would have already done so during the visa application process. This requirement applies to all EU countries except Cyprus and Ireland, as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
The system will be implemented for nationals of non-EU or Schengen countries visiting these destinations for short stays. However, individuals legally residing in or possessing long-stay visas for EU countries will be exempted.
Consequently, the Port of Dover, Eurostar, and Eurotunnel terminals in the UK will also adopt the EES system. An agreement allows French authorities to conduct border checks at these departure points in the UK.
The operational details of the system and its potential impact on travel are still unclear, and further delays are possible, according to the government. Authorities are actively collaborating with operators to minimize disruptions to border control and traffic flows.
The EES data will be utilized to ensure compliance with entry requirements and authorized lengths of stay. It will record instances of overstays and refusals of entry. It should be noted that the UK and Ireland, which currently maintain a common travel area, will not be subject to the EES system for travel between the two countries.
