Brits could soon enjoy shorter passport control queues at EU airports. Here’s why
British holidaymakers will quickly have the ability to use e-gates at extra EU airports, the UK authorities has introduced.
It comes as a part of negotiations between the UK authorities and the European Union to finalise a ‘post-Brexit reset deal’.
It means British passport holders will now not have to attend at manned desks and can as a substitute be allowed to make use of fast-track e-gates often reserved for EU or European Financial Space residents.
EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds mentioned this is able to give British travellers “extra time to spend on vacation or work journeys […] doing what you need, not being caught in queues.”
The UK authorities mentioned the transfer would finish “the dreaded queues at border management.”
UK travellers have to hitch ‘different nations’ queue at EU airports
Following Brexit, UK residents forfeited their privileged standing when travelling to EU nations.
They now fall into the ‘visa-exempt third-country nationals’ class – the identical classification as travellers from dozens of nations, together with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore.
This has meant British travellers should be a part of the ‘different nations’ queue at border management fairly than utilizing the expedited EU lanes.
The requirement to verify that British travellers meet entry circumstances is a big impediment to permitting them to make use of the fast-track lanes.
EU border management has to confirm that UK travellers usually are not in breach of the 90-day keep restrict in 180 days and that they’ve the means to return to their nation of origin, i.e. a flight ticket out of the EU.
Frontier officers should additionally stamp the passenger’s passport.
This transformation usually interprets to prolonged ready instances, particularly at busy European airports like Amsterdam Schiphol, Milan Malpensa, and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Waits exceeding an hour have develop into commonplace, particularly when arriving shortly after massive worldwide flights.
These delays have an effect on not solely entry into EU nations but in addition departure, as British travellers should bear exit checks that typically lead to missed flights because of prolonged queues.
EU airports introduce e-gates for third-country nationals
A compromise has already been discovered in lots of EU airports the place devoted ‘third-country nationwide’ e-gates have been put in.
As soon as the traveller passes by way of the gate, there’s a temporary verify by border officers who additionally stamp passports.
This technique is already in place throughout Italy, together with Venice Marco Polo and Rome Fiumicino, in addition to at Amsterdam Schiphol and Lisbon.
New pet passports will make it simpler for Brits to convey pets into EU
The UK authorities additionally introduced that new pet passports shall be launched as a part of the deal.
This implies UK cats and canine will have the ability to journey “extra simply” from the UK into the EU by “eliminating the necessity for animal well being certificates for each journey.”
