EES confirmed to launch on November 10th

The EU has confirmed that the EES (European Entry System) will launch on 10^th November after several delays.

The EES will end the requirement for passport stamping for third-country visitors to the Schengen zone but will require fingerprints and facial scans to be taken on the first trip and every three years afterwards. This will apply to all non-resident British visitors to Lanzarote.

EU home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, also announced that the ETIAS visa waiver scheme would now probably be introduced by May next year. This will require British citizens to pay a €7 charge on entry, which will last for three years or until passport expiry. Under-18s and over-70s will be exempt.

The ETIAS scheme mirrors the ESTA visa waiver scheme that is already in place for US citizens and will require online applicants to provide details of address, employment, criminal record and contact details in Spain.