Should the EU copy New Zealand for an easier EES?
Reader says the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority works better
To the Editor,
The EU's Entry/Exit System clearly has problems.
The New Zealand equivalent, the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), provides an interesting comparison.
An application for the NZeTA is done at home before travel with a free app on a smartphone and takes about four minutes.
After the entry of simple personal details, the NZeTA app asks for a scan of your passport and then a photo of you taken by the smartphone.
The cost is about eight euros, although there is another tourist fee of about €40.
There is a natural question of what to do if you do not have a smartphone but I have never seen any actual examples of this problem.
On entry into New Zealand you use your passport in an e-gate which recognizes your travel application via your passport number.
The main difference between the functions of the EES and the NZeTA is the absence of taking fingerprints in the NZeTA.
So, we are left with the question: is the collection of fingerprints of sufficient value in Europe to warrant the huge disruption and very high cost of the EES?
My response to that question is no. The EU should adopt the New Zealand system and dispose of the EES.
R.H. by email
What is your experience of the Entry/Exit System? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com
