People planning on taking a holiday to France, Spain, Greece or other EU nations in 2024 are being told to expect "chaos".
This is because a new EU border system launching next year may mean they face long queues at airports, despite the new controls being launched in a bid to "save time", the Mirror reports. The entry/exit system (EES) is set to be brought in by autumn 2024, and will apply to any non-EU citizens travelling into EU countries.
The digital process will include registering the person's name, their type of the travel document, fingerprints and captured facial images, and the date and place of entry and exit. EU citizens will not be required to undergo the same procedure.
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It will be similar to border controls in the USA where non-citizens are asked to provide data such as fingerprints and facial images.
Following Brexit, people travelling from the UK to EU destinations face new passport rules including having to have their passport stamped at both their entry and exit of the country. The EES sets out to replace this system, and automate border control procedures, but some travel insiders aren't convinced that it will work – and instead are warning that it could lead to longer queues for travellers.
It comes after France requested that the new systems be delayed until after the Paris Olympics, which will end in early August 2024. Ryanair has also called for EU authorities to ensure that airport workers are trained to adapt to the changes before the EES system becomes operational.
Meanwhile Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: "When the new entry and exit system is introduced next year, UK travellers will need to be prepared for potential delays on their first trip to any of the 29 European countries involved in the new system as they will need to have their fingerprints and facial images taken. With this information then valid for the next three years, we hope to see the use of automated border control checks and self-service systems increase the speed of processing times and improve the overall experience for all travellers.
"It is important that border staff are able to implement the new entry and exit system smoothly and efficiently in order to cause minimal disruption to travellers as we move away from the current process of passport stamping. As we look ahead to 2024, the demand for travel remains incredibly high and we expect the EES to be a small addition to the process of travel.
"We always recommend travellers book through their local travel agent in order to ensure they are fully aware and compliant with all travel requirements, as well receive the best value for flights and accommodation during their trip. Advantage is working together with all our agent partners to ensure they are aware of the EES process and are able to help their customers."
Holidaymakers are also being reminded to take note of the passport rules in place since Brexit, which have caught out some passengers. Under the requirements, UK passports need to be less than 10 years old on the day of travel, and must have at least three months remaining after you return.
It's also worth noting that it's not just the dates of your documents that come into play – keep an eye out for damage that could render your passport invalid.
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