From October 6 this year, people travelling to Europe will have to register their fingerprints and a photograph alongside their passport. The introduction of the new scheme for people travelling to and from the UK at airport and ferry terminals could cause delays of up to 14 hours, and the possibility of civil unrest, separate warnings from both sides of the channel have suggested. The European Commission says the new entry/exit system, known as the EES, is an automated IT system that will register travellers, visa holders and visa exempt holders every time they cross an EU external border.
The system will register the person's name, type of the travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit. It will also record refusals of entry. The system will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which the commission say is time consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings and does not allow a systematic detection of those who have exceeded the maximum duration of their authorised stay.
It will also prevent irregular migration, it is claimed. READ MORE: Girl, 12, scarred for life in 'prison napalm' accident READ MORE: Travellers to Italy warned over 'unexpected' tax The EES applies to anyone who is a non-EU national travelling to a European country using the EES for a short stay of up to 90 days within any 180 day period. Non-EU passport holders will register for EES — either at a .