EES border checks

12th April is fast approaching. The official start date.

Last week I was in Portugal, the machines were in place at the airport.
Now arrived in France, by ferry, no sign of anything yet, just the normal gates.

I guess once the Easter holidays are over it will start in earnest. 🤞

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?

So you did the iris scanning and fingerprints at Caen? I recently spoke with someone (British passports) who confirmed they did not have to do it either going to France or returning (they travelled in the last few weeks). Curious.

At Alicante airport last week it was manic as hardly any of the scanners were working resulting in a very large queue and it took probably 3 times as long to get through passport control.

I do love the ferry, though. I'd much rather ferry than fly😆

We do the long crossing from Saint Malo.
8 - 9 hours in the day, 10 - 11 at night. A cabin is a must or I wouldn't go!

Ashcombe

^We usually get a complimentary cabin for a day crossing because we're in the 'Club Voyage', so there would be extra on top of that?^

Complimentary cabins are only available on certain BF crossings i.e. the afternoon sailing from Portsmouth (c.14.30) and the early morning one from Ouistreham (c.08.00) At other ferry crossing times Club Voyage members are given a discounted rate when booking a cabin.

With a 6 hr drive ahead once we get back to the UK we always get the early morning crossing from Ouistreham. As it's a 5 a.m start from our place that complimentary cabin is very welcome

It's 12 hours door to door from Normandy to Co Durham 🙁

We usually get a complimentary cabin for a day crossing because we're in the 'Club Voyage', so there would be extra on top of that?

Complimentary cabins are only available on certain BF crossings i.e. the afternoon sailing from Portsmouth (c.14.30) and the early morning one from Ouistreham (c.08.00) At other ferry crossing times Club Voyage members are given a discounted rate when booking a cabin.

Casdon

butterandjam

Casdon

It’s not unrelated butterandjam. Once your biometrics are taken they are in a public domain ultimately.

EES biometric data include finger prints and iris scan

At present, the UK digital ID proposes to contain a face photo similar to passport . But no mention of fingerprints or iris scan.

I know. Both will identify you, and the biometrics are more identifying than a photograph. That’s my point, once your biometrics are done, you’re permanently on record. So anybody who doesn’t want an ID card should definitely not be going to Europe.

I see what you mean. However, EES record of my prints and iris scan are not available to any UK employer. Or the DWP, or the NHS, or even the UK passport office. AFAIK.

And since UK digital ID is going to be optional / voluntary, because smart phones are not compulsory. I won't be showing mine to any prospective employer either.

S/he would have to make do with the other ID proofs I already provide to my bank, lawyer, etc.

You're right you can get a complimentary cabin MaizieD.
The cabin I mean isn't discounted for Club Voyage members, and we pay an extra £15 on top of the cabin price to get the priority disembarkation.

butterandjam

Casdon

It’s not unrelated butterandjam. Once your biometrics are taken they are in a public domain ultimately.

EES biometric data include finger prints and iris scan

At present, the UK digital ID proposes to contain a face photo similar to passport . But no mention of fingerprints or iris scan.

I know. Both will identify you, and the biometrics are more identifying than a photograph. That’s my point, once your biometrics are done, you’re permanently on record. So anybody who doesn’t want an ID card should definitely not be going to Europe.

Casdon

It’s not unrelated butterandjam. Once your biometrics are taken they are in a public domain ultimately.

EES biometric data include finger prints and iris scan

At present, the UK digital ID proposes to contain a face photo similar to passport . But no mention of fingerprints or iris scan.

escaped

Ooo, that is a long onward journey for you MaizieD, no wonder you'd like to save time. Our journey from Portsmouth is usually 3 1/2 hours, and not easy roads.

So, using Brittany Ferries, you can have priority disembarkation if you book a premium commodore cabin on board. (I'm hopeful there'll be no comments about peoples' choice of travel here! 🤣 ) This is on most sailings, but you'd need to check. They only allow a limited number, so you need to be quick at the time of booking. You really are the very first car waved off by the crew, and the likelihood is that the customs people ignore you too!

PS on some crossings I do slum it in a smelly dog cabin, so it isn't allowed then!

Is is £15 extra for the cabin?

We usually get a complimentary cabin for a day crossing because we're in the 'Club Voyage', so there would be extra on top of that?

We pay for a hoi polloi cabin on a night crossing, but that is always to France because Cherbourg is much nearer our destination than Ouistreham, so no delays on disembarkation...

It’s not unrelated butterandjam. Once your biometrics are taken they are in a public domain ultimately.

Colls

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?

You seem to be confusing two unrelated issues.

The proposed UK digital ID (on smartphone) has not started yet. It is for internal UK use. Nothing to do with boder ontrol or passports . Optional not compulsory.

A new digital ID scheme will help combat illegal working while making it easier for the vast majority of people to use vital government services. Digital ID will be mandatory for Right to Work checks UK use by citizens AND, residents in UK who are not citizens.

The OP is asking about EU border controls, "EES" which are already introduced/ being implemented right now

EU border controls are changing with the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital system for tracking non-EU citizens entering the Schengen Area. Starting October 12, 2025, many non-EU travellers must provide biometric data, including a photograph and fingerprints, at border crossings. The system is being gradually implemented and is intended to eventually replace physical passport stamps, though border officials will still oversee the process

Ooo, that is a long onward journey for you MaizieD, no wonder you'd like to save time. Our journey from Portsmouth is usually 3 1/2 hours, and not easy roads.

So, using Brittany Ferries, you can have priority disembarkation if you book a premium commodore cabin on board. (I'm hopeful there'll be no comments about peoples' choice of travel here! 🤣 ) This is on most sailings, but you'd need to check. They only allow a limited number, so you need to be quick at the time of booking. You really are the very first car waved off by the crew, and the likelihood is that the customs people ignore you too!

PS on some crossings I do slum it in a smelly dog cabin, so it isn't allowed then!

escaped

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.

Oooh. How does that work? Do you book it with the ferry ticket?

We have a 6+hr onward journey from Portsmouth and that terrible passport check queue is frustrating.

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?

You misunderstood my comment - our passports and DH's carte de séjour were checked, with my passport being date stamped, very efficiently on arrival at Ouistreham - enabling us to leave promptly, having been one of the first cars to disembark.

If one were to travel via Eurotunnel or Eurostar, the formalities would be dealt with by the departing country, enabling a quick getaway on arrival at one's destination.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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. 🐾 😆