From Sunday, all non-EU citizens, including British visitors, will face new biometric checks when entering and exiting the European Union under its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES).
The EES will require travellers to register fingerprints, facial images, and personal details when they first enter the Schengen area, which includes all EU countries except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Full implementation is expected by 10 April, 2026, with a gradual rollout to prevent long queues.
The electronic system replaces manual passport stamping with digital records linking travel documents to individuals using biometrics. It aims to modernise border management, prevent illegal migration, combat identity fraud, and monitor overstayers.
First-time arrivals must scan their passports, provide fingerprints, and undergo a facial scan. Subsequent trips will only require facial verification. Children under 12 will have their photograph taken. There is no cost for EES registration.
Checks will occur at airports, ports, train terminals, and road border crossings within the Schengen area. At the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel in Folkestone, and London St Pancras, EES registration will be conducted on departure from the UK by French border officials. Passengers will not need to register again until leaving their destination.
The EU expects minimal delays as EES is gradually introduced, with officials able to suspend checks temporarily if queues grow. Freight and coach traffic at Dover and Eurotunnel will face checks from 12 October, with passenger vehicles following later. Eurostar will phase in procedures gradually. The British government advises travellers to allow extra time while the system settles.
EES is a precursor to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), expected to launch in late 2026. Non-Schengen citizens will need to apply online, provide travel details, pay a €20 fee, and the authorisation will be valid for three years or until passport expiry.
Since April, European visitors to Britain have had to obtain electronic permits before travel.
Kyrgyzstan recorded the largest increase in women’s representation in parliament worldwide in 2025, accordin...
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washin...
Türkiye’s official anti-disinformation agency has issued a statement refuting what it described as onli...
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong m...
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new lead...
The United States has ordered non-emergency government personnel and their families to leave several Middle Eastern nations, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan.
European Union stands with its member states in the face of any threat, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in response to the drone strike that hit Britain's Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in southern Cyprus overnight.
Georgia faces rising diplomatic pressure as Western partners urge alignment against Russia. Tensions grew after the UK sanctioned TV channels Imedi and POSTV, prompting Georgia to summon the British Ambassador for clarification.
The European Union has formally declared that Russia must withdraw its troops from occupied territories - including those inside Georgia - as part of the conditions for achieving lasting peace in Europe.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Global oil prices continue to rise, currently surpassing $119 a barrel this Monday, an almost four year high following fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting oil depots. Stock markets shares slumped on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is pushing to make charging an electric car almost as quick and convenient as filling up a traditional petrol vehicle - a move that could help remove one of the biggest barriers to wider electric vehicle adoption.
South Korea will soon cease to be one of the few countries where Google Maps does not function fully, after its security-conscious government reversed a two-decade-old policy and approved the export of high-precision map data to overseas servers.
New research suggests 40,000-year-old carved objects from south-western Germany bear repeated marks arranged in organised sign sequences similar to early proto-cuneiform, although they are not regarded as a form of writing.
The chief executive of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, has called for more urgent research into the risks posed by artificial intelligence, warning that stronger safeguards are needed as systems become more advanced.
NASA successfully completed a critical fueling rehearsal on Thursday (19 February) for its giant moon rocket, Artemis II, after earlier hydrogen leaks disrupted preparations for the next crewed lunar mission. The launch is scheduled for 6 March, according to the latest information from NASA.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment