Holidaymakers will have to give their fingerprints when travelling to EU countries such as Spain and France under a new law.
Initially set to be introduced in 2022, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will now come into force at the end of this year. The EES is an automated IT system for registering travellers from non-EU countries, according to the Government.
Since Brexit, this now includes the UK and means each time you cross a border into or out of the European Union, you will need to scan your passports and other travel documents at a self-service kiosk before crossing the border, Yorkshire Live reports.
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The system will register your name, type of travel document, your fingerprints and capture pictures of your face, the date and the place on entry and exit. According to the government, it is likely non-EE or Schengen citizens who do not need a visa to enter the EU will have their fingerprints and pictures taken the first time they cross a border into the EU.
This data will then be erased three years after your last trip to the EES area for data protection reasons. If you need a visa to enter the EU, you will not need to give your fingerprints as you will have already provided these as part of the visa application.
The European Commission says this will apply to every EU country, except Cyprus and Ireland. It will also apply to Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
All nationals of countries not in the EU or Schengen will need to use the system when travelling to these countries for short stays. Those who are legal residents in or who have long-stay visas for EU countries will be exempt.
This means the system will also be put in place at the Port of Dover and the Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals in the UK. There is currently an agreement in place which means French authorities can operate border checks at these UK departure points.
It is currently unclear exactly how this will operate and according to the government, there may be further delays. They added that they are currently working with operators to minimise the impacts on border and traffic flows.
The EES data will be used to ensure compliance on entry and the permitted length of stays. It will record anyone who overstays and any refusals of entry.
Currently, the UK and Ireland have a common travel area in place, this means the EES system will not be in place for travel between the two countries.
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