EES does not use "irises", it's a fingerprint and photo. I suppose these could be matched if desired. But as you say, you'd still need to carry your passport.
www.independent.co.uk
It reports that during this phased introduction lasting until 10 April 2026, customers at compatible airports will not only have to register for biometrics but will still get stamps.
I was expecting news like this given that the old plan was to introduce the EES this October, and that the corresponding EU website said that more details would follow "several months prior", which obviously didn't happen so far.
Think that's the idea in the long term. Just wondering though whether more will attempt to enter the EU/EEA in one month than the US when they introduced bios, and whether it can cope.
Id say if you don't have a bank account or Internet access you're unlikely to be going anyway
Because that's an easy cashgrab with an intelligence benefit. That is also currently politically popular in most countries.
To be fair, discriminating against third countries is kind of the entire point. The security benefits accrue mostly to Schengen member states, the costs fall largely to third country visitors. That's kind of the raison d'etre of the EU.
Very likely he same as now, your passport will be stamped at the airport or port of departure in Italy as you return as happens now. It's possible they may check the entry date to confirm you arrived outside EES times!
Thanks. We'll be travelling by train, so the passport stamping will take place at Gare du Nord prior to boarding Eurostar. Presumably we'll then have to sort out the biometrics and fingerprints on our next outward journey in the Spring....unless some facility is provided to sort it in advance before travelling.
Yes, there may be an app, or places outside ports to do that in advance - I think provision will be made at St Pancras away from the Eurostar entry to do this procedure - can anyone confirm?
Would be great if that was the case and if anyone can confirm! Might be a useful “hack” to get registered before flying.
I also wonder if the facility at St Pancras will be for those only with tickets for that day, or whether anyone can turn up at any time and get processed? Got a feeling it must be the former or hundreds could turn up on top of those travelling?
It would have to be for travellers on the day only, because passport and frontier formalities take place after you have passed through the ticket barriers and security....unless, of course, they set up a temporary booth on the concourse, which I think is highly unlikely because of financial and space considerations.
The Eurostar (for Agents) website has a page dedicated to EES, though it may be out of date.
I haven't been through St Pancras in the last 2 weeks, so not sure if there are any new kiosks.
The UK is, of course, doing pretty much the same in reverse.
I struggle to believe that there's anyone who travels internationally who doesn't have a bank account. I also struggle to believe there will be any who can't access the internet who travel abroad.
www.headforpoints.com
Indeed - the only places where it’s really imaginable are where there are land borders and most of the Schengen area’s land borders are in one way or another pretty contentious and unlikely to have much legitimate local cross border regular travel of the “just going to buy some eggs” variety.
It is low but not zero. There are definitely some people in the UK without a bank account who travel abroad and some people in the UK who do not know how to use the internet who travel abroad. These people do exist and just be because it is a tiny percentage it should not be forgotten about.
I would've thought it more likely that a friend or relative will do it for them? Or even a (very unofficial, but not necessarily bad) travel agent or ETIAS service.
That would indeed be unnecessarily restrictive (not to mention discriminatory). As a 17 year old (or under) needs one but doesn’t have to pay the bank account can’t be linked to security, surely?
I think payment would be by card rather than by bank transfer? Visa, Mastercard and Amex do not check the cardholder's name when making online payments.
