British travellers entering the EU will not be required to have their fingerprints and facial biometrics taken until 2024 at the earliest as post-Brexit checks are pushed back.
Europe’s delayed entry/exit system (EES) was expected to take effect in 2021 and is currently due to commence in November 2023. But The Independent has learnt that the electronic border scheme will not now go ahead this year because the database on which it depends will not be ready in time.
