EUROPE’s new biometric border checks, the entry/exist system (EES), will roll out from Sun.
Visitors arriving in any of the Schengen area’s 29 countries will have their faces fingerprints, and entry and exit dates recorded under the new EES.
Passports stamps will be dispensed of in favour of the new digital border management system, which will apply to all Australians entering and exiting the continent.
Anyone without a European Union passport travelling to the Schengen area for a short stay of up to 90 days will use the EES, while those staying for more than 180 days must ensure they are aware of Australia’s agreement with the destinations they are visiting.
The new EES may create delays for travellers at the outset, Smartraveller has warned, but is hoped to eventually offer a streamlined process.
Changes will be gradual, with the EES expected to be fully operational by 10 April.
The EES is free, unlike the EU’s new ETIAS e-visa system, which is currently priced at €7 (approximately $12.33).
