Brits travelling to the country’s favourite holiday destination face new travel disruption thanks to a new rule coming into effect in weeks.
Those visiting Spain will likely face longer queues once arriving at the airport thanks to the new regulations.
Anyone hoping to travel to Spain, as well as other beloved holiday hotspots in countries like France, Italy, Croatia, Switzerland and Portugal, should be prepared for longer queues once touching down in Europe. That is due to new EU rules needing visitors to provide details under the upcoming Entry/Exit system (EES).
Offifcials have warned of delays due to each passenger having to use the new system.
Travellers heading to these nations will encounter significant changes at the airport. When entering and exiting the Schengen area, which includes Spain, you will need to provide fingerprints and a photo, and answer Schengen Border Code questions, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Foreign Office officials anticipate that completing their entry on the new system – which comes into force on October 12 – will add a few minutes on to each passenger’s time at the airport. But they stress that there’s no need to take any action prior to arriving at the border, and there are no costs associated with EES registration.
The Foreign Office guidance states: “If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. After it is fully implemented, EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.
“EES may take each passenger a few extra minutes to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border once the system starts.When EES is introduced, you may need to create a digital record on your first visit to the Schengen area at the port or airport on arrival.
“You will need to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths. You will not need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country.
“If you are flying to a country in the Schengen area, you will complete EES checks when you arrive at your destination. The checks may take a few minutes, so be prepared to wait during busy times.”
Other important Schengen area regulations stipulate that your passport must bear a ‘date of issue’ less than ten years prior to the date you arrive. If you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that exceeds ten years.
Your passport also needs to have an ‘expiry date’ at least three months after the day you plan to depart the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue). The Foreign Office has advised that before setting off, travellers should ensure their passports and other travel documents meet the necessary requirements.
Failure to present a valid travel document or attempting to use a passport reported as lost or stolen will result in denied entry. Visa-free travel to the Schengen area, which includes Spain, is permitted for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This applies under certain conditions:
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as a tourist
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to visit family or friends
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to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
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for short-term studies or training
However, different rules apply if you plan to work in Spain. Border officials will scrutinise your entry and exit stamps to ensure you haven’t exceeded the 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.
Upon arrival at Spanish border control, you may be required to present:
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a return or onward ticket
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proof of your travel insurance
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you have enough money for your stay – the amount varies depending on your accommodation
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a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address if you’re staying at your own property
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an invitation or proof of address if staying with a third party, friends or family, such as a ‘carta de invitation’ completed by your hosts
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
