UK holidaymakers will be fingerprinted each time they visit EU – with lengthy checks taking 6 minutes
BRITS heading to Europe this year will face lengthy checks as fingerprinting is issued each time they cross the border.
The manual ID checks will be rolled out in November and affect thousands of motorists driving from the UK to Europe.
Those driving across the border will be asked to get out of their vehicle to be photographed and fingerprinted, adding up to six minutes to journey times.
The big change will be phased in from November and will see “significant infrastructure” being built to support the thousands of people getting out of cars and buses.
Operators say the system is a way of getting rid of stamping passports and keeping visitors’ information digitally recorded.
The manual checks come as Dover waits for the launch of an app being developed by Frontex, the European border agency.
The app will eventually minimise queues and won’t require passengers to get out of their vehicles.
Border control will be given a tablet which they will pass through cars to verify individuals’ identity.
But according to Doug Bannister, the chief executive of the Port of Dover, the app won’t be ready “any time before November”.
This means second, third, fourth time travellers still need to have a biometric captured at the border, he told The Guardian.
This comes as the UK government confirmed a new deal that will allow UK holidaymakers to use the much faster e-gates when visiting Europe.
The talks mean Brits can join other EU tourists in the shorter queues.
The Prime Minister said: “We will be and are pressing to get on with this straight away.
“Because for holiday makers wanting to get out this summer, they will want to know that they can do so easily, without delay and chaos.”
Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to see the deal done “as soon as possible” claiming there was now no “inhibition” to it getting done.
He said: “Today’s deal will also help British holidaymakers, confirming that they will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues at passport control.
“And I call on all EU members to help make this a reality without delay.”
The government said: “British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control.”
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, added: “This is excellent news for British holidaymakers and will enable an even smoother passenger experience for families travelling to the EU.”