BUSINESS NEWS


Britons’ passports will continue to be stamped at EU borders while their biometric data is collected during the initial rollout of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System


Key points to note as EES launches on Sunday


Overview: UK travellers to submit fingerprints and facial photo, reports Ian Taylor


The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System will launch in 29 countries on Sunday (October 12) but not everywhere at once, meaning travellers will face different procedures at different borders. Estonia and Luxembourg will


deploy the system at all border points, but most will roll it out over six months and two EU members, Ireland and Cyprus, won’t introduce the system at all. UK travellers will continue to


have passports stamped while their biometric data is collected until


64 9 OCTOBER 2025


the deadline for the rollout, with the system intended to be in use everywhere bar Ireland and Cyprus from April 10 next year. All those aged 12 and over will


have to submit four fingerprints and a photo of their face, with just a facial image required from those under 12. There will be self-service kiosks at some borders allowing travellers to submit face and fingerprint data before reaching border control. Data can’t be submitted in advance


of travel until a mobile app is made available, but when it is this won’t


allow the submission of fingerprints, meaning registration can still only be completed at the border. Travellers’ data will be stored for three years, after which they will have to register again. The system can be suspended


for up to six hours at peak times to prevent serious delays and queues. Of the two countries completing


their rollout on the first day, Luxembourg has only one border point and Estonia hosts the


Continued on page 62 travelweekly.co.uk


BUSINESSNEWS


PICTURE: Shutterstock/NFstock


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68