The FCDO updates include Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, France and Switzerland.
Foreign Office changes Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal travel advice in major update
The Foreign Office has changed travel advice for Spain, Greece, Italy AND Portugal in a major update. The FCDO has tweaked travel guidance for nearly 30 nations on Friday, April 10, as a new European Union system rolls out.
The FCDO updates include Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, France and Switzerland. Other countries impacted include the likes of Poland, Germany and more.
The FCDO has shed light on the EES, which is the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now being implemented across the Schengen area. The FCDO said: “This means that when you travel into the Schengen area for short stays, you may need to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo.
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“You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.
“On your first visit into a Schengen country, you may be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk. Follow directions from your travel operator or the staff at your port of entry.
“You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area.
“Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken.
“EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.
“EES is replacing the previous system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays.
“You may be asked to input biometric details every time you enter or exit. If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International, any information will be taken at the border before you leave the UK.
“Your digital EES record is valid for 3 years.” The FCDO shed light on the details and confirmed “updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).”
The 29 countries in the Schengen area are:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not within the Schengen area, and therefore EES is not applicable when travelling to either of these countries.