With the summer holidays approaching, countless people are eagerly anticipating their major European getaway. However, anyone travelling to Spain, France, Greece and other Schengen destinations has been issued an important warning from Heathrow Airport.
Heathrow's Official Alert
Posting on X, the airport's official account urged travellers to "be aware" of the extra waiting times they could encounter at European airports this summer owing to the introduction of the Entry/Exit System, or EES. The system's launch has already created some travel disruption this year with certain passengers missing their flights after becoming stuck in queues.
What is the EES?
The EES is designed to replace the previous manual process of stamping passports when non-EU nationals enter or exit Schengen nations. The new system records this travel electronically using biometric information such as fingerprints.
In the long term, EES is intended to streamline passport control at airports but presently, it is generating substantial queues and adding considerable time to travellers' journeys. This is because it must register travellers using their biometric data.
The procedure is free and travellers don't need to take any different steps before arriving at the airport. Nevertheless, travellers may need to factor in the delay when reaching their departure gate or they could risk missing their flight if the queue proves too lengthy.
Official Guidance
The official Gov.uk website states: "On your first visit to the Schengen area, you may be asked to create a digital record at the port or airport on arrival. You may be asked to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths.
"You don't need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country. The checks may take slightly longer than previously, so be prepared to wait during busy times."
Schengen Area Countries
Countries in the Schengen area include:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
You may also be required to provide either your fingerprint or photograph upon departing a Schengen area country. Your digital EES record remains valid for three years.
Exemptions from EES
Certain people are exempt from EES and will not be required to register. Instead, they must present their exemption documents to a border official upon reaching the border.
People exempt from EES include:
- Nationals of the European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland
- Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national
- Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen
- Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing
- Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
- Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See
- People holding a valid local border traffic permit
- Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys
- People holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State
