🛂 Transit & Visas: Biometric use in the EU?

[richard winterbourn]

Question that, i hope, someone might be able to answer.

I am a very frequent traveller with, currently, in excess of 90 'stamps' in my passport.

However, when returning from Bergamo on Monday there was a major change in passport control. In addition to stamping my passport, border security officers were separating us British off and taking biometric details. In my case it was fingerprints and iris recognition.

So, my question is in two parts. Firstly can/will my biometric details be used when i fly to Faro on February 19, and will i have to provide biometric details again in this country at some stage in the near future.

After all, the biometric details will be exactly the same..

 

[KARFA]

This is EES which the EU has introduced for the Schengen area since October last year. Eventually when rolled out stamps will go and your 90/180 days will be monitored across Europe by the system rather than trying to count stamps. I am surprised you haven't previously encountered it when entering Schengen.

Most airports now have self service kiosks for biometric capture for non-EU passport holders - some smaller airports just do it at the passport desk with the immigration officer. The biometric capture applies to all non-EU, not just UK.

Unfortunately atm it doesn't seem registering biometrics in one country means you can skip the kiosks when entering another on a separate trip so you will have to do it again. So far I have had to do it in 5 countries. Eventually when fully rolled out (currently planed for autumn 2026) it should mean you register once every three years at the kiosks rather than every time, and you should be able to use e gates again. But for now it seems you have to do it on every entry, unless that particular airport has temporarily suspended it which some have to prevent queueing.

 

[Knotty]

This is EES which the EU has introduced for the Schengen area since October last year. Eventually when rolled out stamps will go and your 90/180 days will be monitored across Europe by the system rather than trying to count stamps. I am surprised you haven't previously encountered it when entering Schengen.

Most airports now have self service kiosks for biometric capture for non-EU passport holders - some smaller airports just do it at the passport desk with the immigration officer. The biometric capture applies to all non-EU, not just UK.

Unfortunately atm it doesn't seem registering biometrics in one country means you can skip the kiosks when entering another on a separate trip so you will have to do it again. So far I have had to do it in 5 countries. Eventually when fully rolled out (currently planed for autumn 2026) it should mean you register once every three years at the kiosks rather than every time, and you should be able to use e gates again. But for now it seems you have to do it on every entry, unless that particular airport has temporarily suspended it which some have to prevent queueing.

Agree, seems through this trial period, nothing marrying up! I 'registered' in ALC upon arrival in November. Nothing required upon departure! Last month in FUE, nothing required upon arrival. Then upon departure, I was asked had i registered within Any European Airport during last 3 months? Yes I answered. Directed to gate for confirmation, only to find I'd not been registered(in ALC earlier)🫨 Can now understand why EES has been delayed, full roll out, in September, but for now, all hit and Miss I'm afraid. Trv to ALC next week, so will be interesting 🤭🤭

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Hi Richard,

It should be usable for 3 years within the Schengen area - however, how up to date Faro airport is at the moment is anyone's guess.

 

[KARFA]

it's not register once and avoid the kiosks for three years atm. you should expect to register at the kiosks on entry on every trip atm.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

it's not register once and avoid the kiosks for three years atm. you should expect to register at the kiosks on entry on every trip atm.

This is the main reason that my wife & I, having Irish ancestry, are in the process of applying for Irish passports.