The post you are reporting:
Re this e gates stuff. I know I’ve been banging on about it a lot - but important people know the facts:
1. Some EU airports already allow U.K. passport holders to use e gates. So it’s not “new”.
2. Since Brexit, U.K. passport holders have been reclassified as “third country nationals”. Which means you can’t use the EU passport lanes anymore (although many EU airports will still let you depending upon queues).
3. Many EU airports don’t have e gates at all - even for EU passport holders.
4. As third country nationals, all U.K. passport holders must have a record of entry or exit at the EU border. This might be an electronic record, or a physical passport stamp. (Not needed for EU passport holders). Also, many EU countries will now photograph you on arrival. Some on exit, too.
5. The EU has been promising for a long time to bring in a biometric entry exit system (EES) for third country nationals (including Brits). Latest implementation date is October this year.
6. Under EES, all 3CNs (including Brits) will have to register their biometrics (fingerprints and face) and scan their passports on arrival in the EU. They may also be questioned under the Schengen Borders Code (SBC) about duration of stay, purpose of visit, address in EU. This can be done at a kiosk (not an e gate) on arrival, before passport control. For a family of 4 this process could take up to ten minutes transaction time.
7. Much of this process could be moved on line (or via a mobile app) - but the EU are refusing to allow this because the regulations as currently drafted say it must be done in person on arrival at the port of entry and in front of an officer.
8. This is in stark contrast to UK e gates, where there is no requirement to capture fingerprints or answer questions for EU passport holders. In effect they are cleared for entry into the U.K. in the same way as U.K. passport holders - and wait in the same line.
9. The EU may consider easements for second and subsequent arrivals via e gates for those enrolled in EES for a limited duration. But not for first time arrivals.
10. I have seen nothing in the EU reset agreement that mentions EES or the additional burden this will place on British holidaymakers when it comes into force. Saying that they will be able to enter via e gates is at best naive; and at worst a deliberate attempt to persuade British tourists that there has been some big breakthrough on facilitating their entry into the EU going forward. There hasn’t. And without some concessions on EES queues will get a lot worse before they get better, I’m afraid.
ENDS
3:59 PM · May 20, 2025
Tony Smith CBE