Major tour operators with interests in the south of Gran Canaria such as Jet2 or TUI have issued a warning about a change that could see passengers having to queue at border controls for longer. This is due to the Entry/Exit System (SES) that the European Union (EU) will implement from next month.
This is a new digital border system that will change the requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area such as the south of Gran Canaria. EU residents can travel between countries in this area, which includes Spain, France and Italy, without showing their passport. Now that the UK has left the EU, those travelling to one of these countries using a British passport will have to register their biometric data, such as fingerprints or a photograph, when they arrive. The EES register will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.
The EU intends to implement the EES from next month, although an exact date has not been confirmed. TUI outlined how the new system will affect UK holidaymakers in an update on its website. It has advised that customers may face a longer wait when they arrive at their destination. The update said: "When the EES is operational, it is planned that all inbound and outbound movements will be recorded electronically.
Before you travel, you don’t need to do anything else. The airline will use the Advance Passenger Information (API) form you’ve already completed to submit your details. If you choose to check in at the airport, your information will be sent to the EU during the check-in process. When you arrive at your destination, the first time you use it it may take a little longer than usual to go through border control, as your biometric data (face image and four fingerprints) will be collected. Children under 12 will not have their fingerprints taken. On the day of travel, in case there are delays, “you may want to bring extra water to make your journey to the airport more comfortable.”
