EES border checks

There are one or two YouTube videos where people have tried this out. Very few airports (no idea how many sea ports) have the equipment for the automated system yet, and those who do are still not all up and running flawlessly. a
Apparently it is very quick.

As far as I know, this doesn't affect me as I now have an EU passport as well as my British one. I just have to remember which passport to present at which border.I

I have been through the procedure in the States though, and it was fairly painless.

We came through Ouisreham (Caen) on Monday, 12th October, following a ferry crosing and there are no procedures being implemented ther yet although I was concerned that we could be delayed on arrival if that had been the case.

crossing!!

Ashcombe

We came through Ouisreham (Caen) on Monday, 12th October, following a ferry crosing and there are no procedures being implemented ther yet although I was concerned that we could be delayed on arrival if that had been the case.

Were you in a car?
The checks at Caen are on footies.

I'm assuming it will be the same as going into the USA. It's not a big issue if you have got the correct paperwork.

We're flying to Málaga in November.
We've been told it may take a bit longer at border control there as we will have our biometric data, ie a photograph of our face, and four fingerprints, collected.
This only happens once and children under 12 don't need to give fingerprints.

It's proving too much trouble.
Just now .....
French authorities are pausing the EES questions for travellers in UK.
Questions, especially at kiosks, were feared to cause confusion; change affects ferries, Eurostar and Eurotunnel.

Recently experienced these checks arriving at Palma. Very easy and quite rapid. The instructions are clear and there are people to hand to help should there be a problem.

We’ve just been both ways through Le Shuttle (Folkestone/Calais) and there was just the usual perusal of passports, nowt else.

My D comes back from Paris on €* every Thursday afternoon// evening to see clients and goes back on Friday evening.
She has had no trouble and hopefully as the malarkey (or at least the second two questions) has been paused, she hopes to be fine until they move back to London in 2026.

Arrived in Malta on Wednesday evening.
Passports checked and fingerprints taken. No hassle.

Landed in Catania Sicily and no problems but new machinery not installed yet !

Does it make the whole ID debate moot?
If border authorities have iris scan and fingerprints?
It does seem to back-up the theory that the anti-ID card people are saying. No eID, no travel?

escaped

Ashcombe

We came through Ouisreham (Caen) on Monday, 12th October, following a ferry crosing and there are no procedures being implemented ther yet although I was concerned that we could be delayed on arrival if that had been the case.

Were you in a car?
The checks at Caen are on footies.

Yes, we were travelling by car and cleared the port within minutes of docking.

my cousin's sister in law travelled from Jersey to Birmingham this week. Problems with entering. All pages of the passport had to be copied and talks about requiring a VISA were mentioned! . in the end the matter was resolved but it was not a quick resolution .

Question. How do illegal immigrants cross these borders? Are they not affected?

Delene100

Question. How do illegal immigrants cross these borders? Are they not affected?

I'm more interested in how they're going to check my dog's pawprint. 🐾 😆

Delene100

Question. How do illegal immigrants cross these borders? Are they not affected?

Once they are inside the Schengen area there are no border checks between countries.

Yes, we were travelling by car and cleared the port within minutes of docking

I have never understood how one can drive off the ferry in France and be off and away without any checks. (My experience of Caen and Cherbourg over 30odd years) but there’s always a very long delay at Portsmouth for passport checking to get back into the UK. British paranoia?

escaped

Is it possible travelling GNs can give their experiences of the new passport control procedures as they are implemented?
Just as a heads up.

Caen (FR) is doing retina scans and fingerprints for UK passport holders without French residence cards.
I'm going to Amsterdam next month, but I don't think they are starting until next year? Must be to do with installing the technical machinery around the places?

You could ring the Dutch Embassy, or a Consul and ask. Better that than standing in Amsterdam without something you should have brought with you.

AuntieE

escaped

Is it possible travelling GNs can give their experiences of the new passport control procedures as they are implemented?
Just as a heads up.

Caen (FR) is doing retina scans and fingerprints for UK passport holders without French residence cards.
I'm going to Amsterdam next month, but I don't think they are starting until next year? Must be to do with installing the technical machinery around the places?

You could ring the Dutch Embassy, or a Consul and ask. Better that than standing in Amsterdam without something you should have brought with you.

Thanks, AuntieE, great minds think alike.
I checked shortly after posting the OP, so I'd better add an update.
Schiphol EES checks should be going live on November 3rd.

MaizieD

^Yes, we were travelling by car and cleared the port within minutes of docking^

I have never understood how one can drive off the ferry in France and be off and away without any checks. (My experience of Caen and Cherbourg over 30odd years) but there’s always a very long delay at Portsmouth for passport checking to get back into the UK. British paranoia?

If you are right at the front and not ramped on the ferry in Ouistreham you can be off, first at the booth for checks and away in about 5-10 minutes. If you are at the back of the ramp it can be at least an hour. I agree Portsmouth is very slow.

That's why I pay an extra £15 to drive off first in Portsmouth red carpet treatment. (Because we have a long onward journey).
Straight through.

We are in Crete at the moment, and we were told before we landed that we could be asked to have biometrics taken on arrival, but although there was equipment, it wasn’t done for anybody on our flight. I agree that once they are done for you, it seems odd if you then resist having an ID card at home.