Full Euro arrival changes complete from April 10

The European Union will have full implementation of its new entry/exit system across Schengen airports by April 10.

Passport stamps will be replaced with biometric registration for non-EU travellers, including Australians.

+ First-time travellers under the system must register biometric data.

+ It could mean some delays in the first weeks as “first-time entries” are processed.

+ Many airports will introduce self-service kiosks, which will speed things up for those entering on subsequent visits.

WHAT & HOW

+ The EES is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any of the following European countries using the system.

+ When you arrive at a border crossing point for the first time since the EES started, you will have to provide your personal data. Passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints. This information will be recorded in a digital file.

+ This can be quicker if you register some of your data in advance. You can do this by using the dedicated equipment (“self-service system”), if available at your border crossing point, and/or a mobile application, if made available by the country of arrival or departure (for example Travel to Europe, for Sweden).

travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/ltr