Starting October 12, the European Union will begin the gradual rollout of a new electronic border control system, known as the entry and exit system (EES). Under this automated control system, third-country nationals wishing to enter or exit the EU (or Switzerland and Liechtenstein) will be required to provide their biometric data, fingerprints, and a facial scan upon arrival, in addition to their passport and date of departure.

In exceptional circumstances, such as very long queues, Member States may decide to temporarily suspend the system, which is intended to replace the traditional passport stamp and enables real-time cross-checks with EU databases to identify risks quickly.

Six-month rollout

The ESS will be rolled out over 180 days. This will allow for intervention if technical problems arise. After one month, 10% of border crossings must be registered, after three months, 35%, and after six months, all travelers from outside the EU must be registered through the system.

During the transition period, Member States will continue to stamp travel documents, regardless of whether biometrics are taken or not. Children under 12 will not have to provide fingerprints. Once EES is fully deployed, passport stamps will be discontinued.

In the run-up to October 12, the European Commission will also organize information campaigns for travelers.

Smart borders

The introduction of the system, which has been under discussion for almost 10 years, has been postponed several times, most recently in October last year, because Germany, France, and the Netherlands were not yet ready for its implementation.

The ESS is part of the EU’s broader “smart borders” program. It allows the EU to speed up access for pre-approved, frequent travelers from outside the EU – on subsequent visits, only biometric verification may be required – while fighting irregular migration.

At present, eligible non-EU citizens are allowed to spend 90 days in any 180 days in the EU without a visa. The EES will digitize travel records to ensure that this limit is not breached. Data will be stored on file for three years. If you refuse to supply it, you will be denied entry.

“The entry and exit system strengthens security in the Schengen area by helping us identify people who overstay, prevent irregular movements, and reduce document and identity fraud,” says European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner.

Extra waiting time?

Transport companies and road transport operators, including Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover, are particularly cautious about the new automated border control system. They fear long queues at airports and train stations.

They also had hoped an app, being developed by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, would be ready for the launch of the EES. However, it has been delayed as each member state works to integrate it into their immigration system, which is of national, rather than EU, competency. But even when the app is available, fingerprints will still need to be taken at EU borders.

But London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also expressed his concerns. Kha fears that the system could cause “chaos” at St Pancras, the station from which Eurostar trains depart and arrive. The British authorities have already warned their citizens that “a few minutes” of extra waiting time will be required for “every passenger” to cross the border.

At Dover, for example, there is no separate registration area. Passengers will queue as usual, and agents will approach cars and coaches with tablets on which to register non-EU citizens and collect biometrics.

Eurostar, on the other hand, has expanded its check-in space and will have three locations around the station with a total of 49 registration booths. Passengers will need to register their passport information and biometric data there before continuing to departures. It has also added nine extra manual checking booths (bringing the total to 18) and e-gates. At Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi, it has added new kiosks and manual checking desks.

In Folkestone, where the British terminal of LeShuttle, formerly Eurotunnel, is located, more than 100 EES registration booths are planned. Get ink, the owner of LeShuttle, says it can handle 700 cars and 2,000 passengers an hour, and the EES checks will mean each car takes five minutes to process, writes The Times.

Munchen Airport

No problems are expected at most airports because the technology for processing biometric data is already available in many large terminals. In the long term, at least in theory, the introduction of the EES should eventually speed things up at border crossings and make entry into and exit from European countries much easier.

Twenty-nine countries will participate in the automated control: all EU countries, except Cyprus and Ireland. But also, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.