Smile, you’re on camera. Starting October 6, 2024, the airports in the EU will track non-EU nationals using advanced biometrics for arrivals and departures.
The new Entry and Exit System (EES) designed to monitor non-EU citizens who need a visa for brief visits.
This initiative affects individuals from the USA, Canada, the UK and other non-EU nations who plan to travel to Europe.
The EES, an advanced IT solution, captures and monitors the movements of non-EU travelers through their fingerprints and digitalized travel documents.
Additionally, the system is linked with the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which applies to UK citizens and those from non-EU countries.
Mechanics of EES
The EES collects and distributes data regarding the admission, departure, and denial of entry to non-EU nationals within the Schengen area. It is one more move away from traditional passport stamps
The new procedure will require fingerprinting, along with such personal details such as name, nationality, and passport information. A facial photograph will also be captured.
The system is designed to monitor these travelers’ movements within the EU, alerting authorities to any overstays or unauthorized entries.
Bad guys take note – the new system improves tracking of individuals by police and immigration officials, and promises to improve overall security for travelers, including preventing fraud, including identity theft.
Overview of the EU Entry and Exit System
According to the trade publication Travel and Tour World, EES is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at documenting every entry and exit by non-EU nationals across the Schengen zone borders.
Countries like Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland are included in the zone, while the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus do not participate.
The system’s primary goal is to bolster security at the borders and manage migration more effectively.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA).
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter also is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA).
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
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