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British tourists heading to Spain and Greece to be told exactly when major security changes are coming

New travel rules that were due to be introduced for all British tourists to Europe over the next three months have been delayed again. The new Entry/Exit System (EES) was due to launch on 6 October, ending the manual stamping of passports for non-EU citizens crossing into countries including Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy.

Instead, the new system requires British holidaymakers to register their fingerprints and a facial scan, and scan their passports at a self-service kiosk. The move to an automated system is designed to keep a closer eye on visitors from outside the EU and flag anyone who overstays the 90-day visa-free limit.




With the initial launch date fast approaching, port and airline officials had raised concerns that airports and road crossings were still not prepared for the border changes. Dozens of airports across Europe have yet to install the required fingerprint technology, leading to concerns that holidaymakers would be queuing up on arrival for the October half-term holiday.

Read more: EasyJet and Jet2 passengers warned over using bags ‘with wheels’

The planned launch of the EES has reportedly been postponed until November 10, after being delayed since 2022. The announcement means that passengers travelling to Europe before then will still need to get their passports stamped when crossing an external border into the 29-country Schengen area.

Once the new system is in place, it is expected to add two to three minutes of processing time per passenger, up from the current 45 seconds. However, concerns remain about potential delays at airport arrivals, the Port of Dover and Eurostar trains from St Pancras International.

The Times reported that there will also be an “emergency” contingency plan to delay the launch until November 17 if member states raise concerns. The European Union website said the date the system is expected to become operational has yet to be confirmed.

Another big change to travel will follow the launch of EES next year. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will require non-EU passengers, including those from Britain, to obtain a £6 travel authorisation before entering most European countries.

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