UK Prepares for EU’s New Biometric Border Rules Amid Concerns of Travel Delays

As the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) approaches its October launch, major UK border points are ramping up preparations to avoid potential chaos. The EES will require non-EU nationals, including Britons, to register their biometric data the first time they cross into the EU, sparking fears of long delays for travellers.

To mitigate these concerns, significant investments are being made at key points such as Dover’s ferry port, Eurostar’s London St Pancras terminus, and Eurotunnel’s Folkestone site. At Dover, plans include processing coaches separately from cars and reclaiming a dock to create more space. Eurostar will expand its facilities at St Pancras to accommodate new kiosks, and Eurotunnel is constructing processing zones and hiring additional staff.

Despite these measures, the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron recently expressed his worries about the potential for “long delays,” echoing widespread concerns. The new system will replace passport stamping with fingerprint and photo registrations, along with a brief questionnaire about the traveller’s journey.

At Dover, new processes will be implemented to manage the additional checks. Coaches will be processed at the Western docks, where passengers will disembark, complete their EES registration, and then re-board sealed coaches for the ferry terminal. Cars and other vehicles will initially follow existing procedures, with plans to move their processing to the Western docks by next summer, pending the creation of additional land.

The Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras will see an expansion of border control points, with 49 EES kiosks to be installed throughout the station. Despite these changes, Eurostar’s chief stations and security officer, Simon Lejeune, assures that passengers won’t need to arrive earlier than usual, maintaining the current 45 to 90-minute check-in window.

Eurotunnel is investing £70 million in new processing areas and technology to ensure efficient passage through border controls, with the expectation of a slight increase in processing time. The EU is developing an app to facilitate EES registration from home, but it won’t be ready by October. A six-month transition period will allow for reduced checks to manage potential congestion.

The UK government is collaborating with the EU, port authorities, and industry stakeholders to develop contingency plans and minimize the risk of delays. With these preparations, the aim is to ensure a smooth transition to the new EES system and maintain efficient travel between the UK and the EU.