Millions of UK citizens are expressing concerns about an upcoming travel system change set to launch next month, which may deter them from visiting Europe. Surprisingly, a majority of individuals are not yet aware of this imminent alteration.
Scheduled for October 12, the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) will become operational. This digital border control mechanism aims to replace the traditional manual passport stamping method for non-EU travelers, including those holding UK passports, entering the Schengen Area.
Post-Brexit, the UK no longer belongs to the EU, necessitating extra scrutiny for UK passport holders when traveling to the bloc. This will involve procedures such as fingerprint scanning. Moreover, a €20 fee for a three-year Etias pass is anticipated to be implemented by late 2026.
Research conducted by Co-op Insurance indicates that 15 million UK adults, representing 29% of respondents from a recent survey of 2,000 individuals, are hesitant to travel to Europe due to the EES. Additionally, nearly 60% of participants are oblivious to the impending introduction of the new EU digital border system.
While the EES is designed to streamline airport checks, a notable portion of individuals surveyed expressed reluctance towards traveling to Europe as a consequence of this new digital border.
Upon initial entry, travelers will be required to provide fingerprints and a facial photo at a border kiosk, potentially leading to a slightly longer border control process. Subsequently, entry and exit details, location information, and biometric data will be retained for three years.
Among those reluctant to visit EU countries, over a third (34%) expressed discomfort with the idea of their biometric data being stored, while 10% cited concerns about potential delays at border crossings as a deterrent.
Ellis German, head of Travel at Co-op Insurance, emphasized the importance of travelers being informed about the EES changes to effectively plan their trips. German encouraged holidaymakers heading to EU destinations post-October 12 to acquaint themselves with the new border system for a hassle-free airport experience.
Notably, countries within the Schengen area include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, and others. However, the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not part of the Schengen area, thus exempt from the EES regulations when traveling to these nations.
