France's busiest airports and Channel ferry ports, plus Eurostar and Eurotunnel, are fitted out with Entry/Exit System kiosks or tablet computers in a bid to reduce long queues when the EU’s EES border changes launch from October 12.
They allow non-EU-national visitors to pre-register some information required before they pass before border officials.
Under plans adopted this summer, EES does not have to launch at all sites at once and where it does launch it may not immediately be used for all passengers.
Johann Roos, director of regulatory affairs at ferry industry body Interferry, said the original plan to start everywhere from day one would have been “massively disruptive” and they, and other industry bodies, had lobbied against it. They welcome the chance for "gradual implementation", he said.
Interferry believes the impacts now, including potential for longer queues, will now depend on how “aggressive” countries decide to be in their roll-out plans.
Mark Tanzer, chief executive of UK travel agents’ body Abta, said: “Launching a new digital border system in 29 countries is no mean feat but doing it over a six-month period should allow the system to bed in, while minimising impact on travellers.
“It also takes pressure off peak travel periods such as October half-term and Christmas.”
EES will launch at some French sites on October 12, then over six months will be put in place at all crossing points where visitors can enter or leave the EU’s Schengen area.
This includes international ports, airports and stations, including where French checks are completed on British soil at Dover, London St Pancras and Folkestone.
Ad
All EU states were asked to confirm their rollout plans to the EU by September 24 and we are seeking further information on this.
All relevant passengers will be affected from November 1 in Dover and around the same time at Eurotunnel, parent firm Getlink reports.
Who is affected?
Those affected by EES are short-stay visitors, including second-home owners, who are not EU, EEA or Swiss nationals.
They will provide data for a new EU database log that will be used to monitor their subsequent movements into and out of the bloc.
After phasing in, passport stamps will cease with EES automatically monitoring respect of the EU’s 90/180 days rule.
Seasonal workers are affected if their current work contract is for less than three months.
Foreign-national residents are not directly concerned, but may be affected if ‘other passports’ queues lengthen.
There are no plans to allow this group to use ‘EU’ lanes and they must see a border guard to show their visa/residency card (under-18s should have a DCEM to avoid being asked to register in EES).
Spouses or civil partners of EU (but not French) citizens accompanying or joining them can still use ‘EU’ lanes and it is expected that the same tolerance will continue for spouses and partners of French people.
If not residents in France they must be registered in EES, or if residents, show visas/residency cards.
Citizens of Monaco and Andorra, as well as Monegasque residency card holders are exempt.
‘Pre-registration devices’ (PRDs) will be optional but, where they exist, passengers will be strongly advised to use them.
These systems – whether tablets handed out by helpers or self-service ‘kiosks’ – will be used by people to input required information before they arrive at a border guard’s booth.
They will have instructions in several languages and helpers will be at hand.
A pre-registration phone app is not yet available to use for France travel, but is being trialled.
Once people are pre-registered, only brief ‘validation’ at the border guard’s booth is required and biometrics should not have to be given again.
Where Parafe automatic passport gates exist they can be used in combination with PRDs on subsequent entries and exits for many visitors.
The government is still working towards allowing them an “automated route through passport control”.
Johann Roos, InterferryInterferry
Interferry's Mr Roos said his association has previously raised concerns that EES may be more suited to air travel.
“Ferries carry a mix of foot passengers, car passengers, bus passengers, and truck drivers, with different and varied checkpoints; typically allowing for last-minute boarding for foot passengers,” he said.
However, he said firms are now dependent on government rollout decisions and the "practical implementation" by border forces.
We should see only “moderate” impacts on October 12, if countries are well “attuned to the situation at their borders”, he said.
“The most important thing is for border forces and member states to provide our members with fast, clear information.
"We are calling on members to seek contact with these authorities so they can communicate all necessary details to customers.”
Abta's Mr Tanzer said: “The phased launch presents a communications challenge – it’s hard to prepare passengers for a system they may or may not experience.
"Fortunately, there isn’t anything you need to do in advance.”
A Getlink (Eurotunnel) spokeswoman said their terminals will be able to "process up to 550 vehicles per hour through EES, accommodating approximately 1,500 passengers", which should allow them to “maintain high standards of speed and fluidity”.
“We used artificial intelligence, and a virtual model of the system, to simulate passenger flows during peak periods and under various conditions.
"This helped determine the optimal number of EES lanes required to "maintain smooth traffic flow at the terminals and on surrounding motorways.”
How will the equipment work?
Users will need a valid, biometric passport and to be aged 18 or more, or otherwise be a minor accompanied by an adult.
Data collected will include passport information (name, date and place of birth, gender, nationality, passport number, issuing country, expiry date); date and time of crossing the border; facial image and right-hand fingerprints.
Accompanied minors will not have biometrics taken. They do not have to give their fingerprints for EES, and their facial image will be taken by the border guard.
Unaccompanied minors will have the process carried out entirely by a border guard.
The process with a kiosk
Click on welcome screen and follow instructions.
Reply to travel questions about your journey: intended length of stay, purpose of stay (tourism, business, study…), country of first stay in Schengen area, confirmation that you have sufficient financial means for your trip and return home.
A passenger uses a kioskGetlink
Place passport, photo page open, on a reader and hold it down until you receive notification that the data was collected.
Take off glasses, scarves, hats, masks... stand in front of the camera and, guided by the LED lights, ensure the image is taken successfully.
Place the four fingers of the right hand on the reader (left hand, if right is impossible).
The screen will then indicate where to go to cross the border.
The process with a tablet
A helper holding a tablet will assist you and will ask you to respond to the travel questions (see above).
Hand them your passport, which they will scan.
Get ready for a photo, which will be taken by the helper using the tablet.
Press your right-hand fingers onto the reader as indicated by the helper (left hand, if necessary).
Once you are in the system, future border crossings will be faster, as your existing EES database entry will be updated by just registering the place, date and time of the crossing.
If you are a regular visitor to the Schengen area your data will be kept on an ongoing basis – or for three years after the last exit from the area.
Interferry’s Mr Roos also noted that six months after full EES implementation (around October 2026), another requirement is coming: Etias, an online pre-approval application to enter the EU, costing €20 (and valid for three years).
Coming on top of the UK’s recent launch of its similar ETA for non-British nationals, this leaves firms feeling that “government control of passengers is increasing very rapidly, which is challenging to implement in a short period of time”, he said.
Which French border points will have pre-registration devices?
Large and medium-sized airports and ferry ports as well as Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals will be equipped with PRDs.
Small airports will see passengers complete full procedures at border guard’s booths.
The UK government estimates that it should be possible for this to take no more than two minutes per person, but this is likely to vary and impacts on queue lengths and total waiting time remain to be seen.
At small airports the borders are manned by customs officers, while the police are responsible at larger sites.
French airports body UAF previously told us the Interior Ministry had promised an additional 1,000 police and said the Douanes also reported having received extra staff, post Brexit, which should help them cope.
Among sites with pre-registration equipment, airports are more likely to have kiosks, as will Eurostar and Eurotunnel.
Arrangements at ports differ, with Ports de Normandie (Caen, Cherbourg, Dieppe) opting for tablets, while the UK’s busiest port, Dover, has decided that setting aside areas where cars and coaches can pull up for occupants to use kiosks will be more efficient.
