Non-EU travellers heading to EU/Schengen international locations will quickly face biometric border controls because the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into drive from October twelfth. But can travellers choose out?
The EES scheme will regularly substitute passport stamps with fingerprinting and facial scans for short-stay guests, in accordance with the European Commission.
The Commission says the system is required to forestall overstays, cease identification fraud and strengthen exterior border safety.
It is being rolled out in phased method throughout Europe from October twelfth and will likely be absolutely in place by April 2026.
Who should give biometrics – and who doesn’t?
The EES applies to guests from international locations such because the UK, US and Canada in addition to holders of short-stay Schengen visas. They might want to have their fingerprints and a facial picture taken at their first entry, with the knowledge saved for future crossings. EU and Schengen residents are exempt, as are non-EU nationals who maintain a sound residence card in an EU/Schengen nation.
But can I choose out of giving fingerprints and facial scans?
Well you possibly can, however you will not be allowed to journey. The EU places it merely: “If you refuse to offer your biometric knowledge, you can be denied entry into the territory of the European international locations utilizing the EES.”
In different phrases you will simply must turnaround and go residence.
READ ALSO: How will the EU’s new EES passport checks have an effect on the 90-day rule?
Why is your knowledge collected?
According to the Commission, the EES is designed to bolster border administration, stop irregular migration, and preserve observe of overstayers. It additionally goals to establish travellers utilizing false identities or passports, and to assist stop and examine terrorism and different critical crimes. In quick, the biometric scans are supposed to pace up border checks whereas tightening safety.
So what knowledge will get saved and for the way lengthy?
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The system data a traveller’s passport particulars, date and place of entry and exit, fingerprints, a facial picture, and any refusal of entry. In most circumstances, data are held for 3 years. If somebody overstays, their file may be retained for as much as 5 years. Data is routinely deleted when the authorized storage interval expires.
READ ALSO: How you possibly can put together for journey underneath Europe’s new EES and ETIAS guidelines
Who can see the information?
Border guards and immigration authorities will utilise the system to confirm identities and decide entry rights. Law enforcement companies in Schengen international locations and Europol could entry the information underneath strict circumstances for counter-terrorism or critical crime investigations. Airlines and transport firms can not entry private data, however they’ll confirm whether or not a visa has been used up.
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How is your knowledge protected?
The Commission says the EES follows strict EU knowledge safety legal guidelines and is supervised each by nationwide knowledge safety authorities and the European Data Protection Supervisor. Data is saved in a safe central database managed by the EU Agency eu-LISA, which ensures compliance with privateness guidelines.
The system has been constructed with “knowledge safety by design and by default,” that means solely authorised employees can entry it, and just for particular functions.
Travellers have the precise to request entry to their EES report and to ask for corrections if knowledge is incorrect or incomplete. They may also request deletion of unlawfully processed knowledge. Complaints may be lodged with nationwide knowledge safety authorities or, in some circumstances, the European Data Protection Supervisor.
