Travellers from the UK going across the EU may face a new system from today. Airports across the continent will launch the new Entry and Exit System (EES) digital system from this week (October 12). It means most non-EU citizens will be required to register their biometric data at one of 29 participating countries, including several holiday hotspots such as Spain and Greece.

Some travellers from the UK will be required to have their faces photographed and their fingerprints scanned before they can enter Europe’s Schengen area. As the scheme gradually rolls out, travellers will soon not need to have their passports stamped. The new system is being introduced to make crossing the border quicker and more efficient. Despite this, as the scheme is in its early days, many holidaymakers have been warned that they could face delays of up to four hours at the airport. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “Make sure, where possible, you’re leaving yourself between three and four hours from the point of entry. You may be going for a concert, you may be going for a meeting, you may be going for a wedding, for a cruise. 

“If you’re not leaving yourself enough time and you unfortunately arrive at an airport where there is a bottleneck, which in a lot of places there are already, this is going to add another layer of frustration and delay.”

However, some travellers may not need to register their biometric data on the new system. According to the EU website, you do not need to use the system if the following apply:

• You are a non-EU national who holds a residence card or permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel through Europe like an EU citizen

• People exempt from border checks due to certain privileges, e.g. a head of state

• You are a non-EU national who holds a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national