ETIAS?

[Marbe2]

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en is the Website I reviewed, as well as a search on this website before asking again about the current status of ETIAS.

According to the website ETIAS is scheduled to start six months after EES. Does anyone have any idea when EES is now scheduled, again to start? I just booked a Camino flight for late April/May.


It is my understanding that once ETIAS is in place it will require us to be either fingerprinted or facial entry will be utilized? Is that correct? Personally, my experience with Global Entry in The USA would hope that the EU takes as much time as needed before implementing their system for the masses.

In the USA, I have used Global Entry for almost 10 years. Initially, it required us to be fingerprinted. When we arrived back inthe USA,instead of waiting on obnoxiously long lines at JFK, or EWR, we went to kiosks, put our passports in and then put our fingers on a glass screen for our prints to be verified. Initially, we sometimes had glitches. All of our fingers didn’t always read well, particularly if your prints weren’t as readable (elderly, musicians, construction workers, farmers etc.). Thankfully, there weren’t that many casual American travelers who wanted to-pay $100 per year for this service, so glitches weren’t as problematic. Last couple of years the kiosks progressed to facial recognition. It works better, but then one needs to really face the screen! Of course! But sometimes, people are shorter or taller than the particular screens viewing range….then requiring the entrant to adjust their height, or go to a different machine. Still there weren’t a lot of people using Global Entry, not enough, that is, to create a back-up. Can’t wait to see what happens when the masses have to use a similar, but hopefully better recognition system…. hopefully after my upcoming Camino trip!

 

[Marbe2]

‘Mid 2025’ is the best current update

Information on ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)

It is expected that ETIAS will only be implemented in mid-2025.

www.eeas.europa.eu

Having long, frequent and recent experience of major European airports pre-and post-Brexit my first entry into Schengen when either or both systems finally go live will be to a tourist-dominated Spanish airport. The authorities there know the value of tourism and tend to allocate appropriate resources. Experience during covid is a guide - the big Spanish airports were exemplary.

In the last two weeks I’ve entered through Schipol - two slow officials for a queue like the crowd scene in ‘Gandhi’.40 minutes in the air, 2.5 hours in immigration. Alicante; five UK flights landed within 20 minutes. Immigration took 5 minutes.

Is not the ETIAS system uniform across the various EU countries? In the exiting process, I read that fingerprinting and facial recognition would be utilized. Does anyone know how Spain plans to implement EES. How will we get fingerprinted or get a photo taken. Will we need to make an appointment before flying home or exit the country like we did when Covid was checked? We certainly can’t do that at security when flying home…

 

[TravellingMan22]

I don’t know the details but the process sounds pretty much the same as foreign nationals use to enter Australia, Canada and USA to name three. It’s really smoothed up the process. From confirmation post application within a few minutes to quicker times with border agents. Often don’t even have to get a stamp. Fingerprints are taken and you look into the camera. If you re-enter within a certain timeframe, your details are already on file. It would be uniform across all the relevant European countries I would imagine. It’s no surprise to me it’s has been delayed so many times. Trying to get so many countries aligned must be quite the task.

I certainly wouldn’t envisage any appointments! There no chance of that unless you need a visa.

 

[TravellingMan22]

It’s across Schengen, not the EU precisely; and all to be done at point of entry not in advance.

I’ve seen the banks of machines in-situ for months at many airports. Enter passport - as for the current electronic gates - put fingers on print sensor and don’t smile for the camera. How one pays when the charge starts, I don’t know, but contactless card would be my guess

You just pay €7 pre travel and you get travel authority for 3 years! No boarding the plane without pre approval!

I’ve have not seen the machines in Europe but they have similar in Australia. You do your entry stuff at the machines and then pass through the immigration barriers without even speaking to an agent.

 

[TravellingMan22]

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en is the Website I reviewed, as well as a search on this website before asking again about the current status of ETIAS.

According to the website ETIAS is scheduled to start six months after EES. Does anyone have any idea when EES is now scheduled, again to start? I just booked a Camino flight for late April/May.


It is my understanding that once ETIAS is in place it will require us to be either fingerprinted or facial entry will be utilized? Is that correct? Personally, my experience with Global Entry in The USA would hope that the EU takes as much time as needed before implementing their system for the masses.

In the USA, I have used Global Entry for almost 10 years. Initially, it required us to be fingerprinted. When we arrived back inthe USA,instead of waiting on obnoxiously long lines at JFK, or EWR, we went to kiosks, put our passports in and then put our fingers on a glass screen for our prints to be verified. Initially, we sometimes had glitches. All of our fingers didn’t always read well, particularly if your prints weren’t as readable (elderly, musicians, construction workers, farmers etc.). Thankfully, there weren’t that many casual American travelers who wanted to-pay $100 per year for this service, so glitches weren’t as problematic. Last couple of years the kiosks progressed to facial recognition. It works better, but then one needs to really face the screen! Of course! But sometimes, people are shorter or taller than the particular screens viewing range….then requiring the entrant to adjust their height, or go to a different machine. Still there weren’t a lot of people using Global Entry, not enough, that is, to create a back-up. Can’t wait to see what happens when the masses have to use a similar, but hopefully better recognition system…. hopefully after my upcoming Camino trip!

Well I guess we are increasingly using and getting used to facial recognition and it will/has become the norm. My phone is basically run on facial recognition, to get into apps, approve payments, etc. It’s something I use probably 100 times a day.

I certainly think Spain is one of the best in terms of passenger entry processing amongst European in terms of current process, so I would think good news awaits!

 

[henrythedog]

I’ll remove my post on the assumption that I’m wrong wrt payment. Do you have a link as to how it works if you have to pay pre-departure but have not gone through the photo/fingerprint system until arrival?

All the Spanish airports I’ve been through recently have the machines in-situ (many of them) but covered

 

[TravellingMan22]

I’ll remove my post on the assumption that I’m wrong wrt payment. Do you have a link as to how it works if you have to pay pre-departure but have not gone through the photo/fingerprint system until arrival?

I will try and find one! But it’s the same as getting as ESTA for the USA, or an ETA for Canada in advance of travel. You apply, pay, get approval and off you go. I guess it is approval to travel and you get on the bus or plane with that approval. It’s a one off payment as opposed to ‘pay per entry’, again same as USA and Canada. Countries reserve the right to not admit you I guess, though that will be vary rare.

Not sure you will be fingerprinted every time-no idea. I entered the USA twice in quick succession earlier this year and they didn’t fingerprint me the second time.

 

[JabbaPapa]

It has been delayed several times over many years, so your guess is as good as anyone else's.

 

[CTLawGal]

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en is the Website I reviewed, as well as a search on this website before asking again about the current status of ETIAS.

According to the website ETIAS is scheduled to start six months after EES. Does anyone have any idea when EES is now scheduled, again to start? I just booked a Camino flight for late April/May.


It is my understanding that once ETIAS is in place it will require us to be either fingerprinted or facial entry will be utilized? Is that correct? Personally, my experience with Global Entry in The USA would hope that the EU takes as much time as needed before implementing their system for the masses.

In the USA, I have used Global Entry for almost 10 years. Initially, it required us to be fingerprinted. When we arrived back inthe USA,instead of waiting on obnoxiously long lines at JFK, or EWR, we went to kiosks, put our passports in and then put our fingers on a glass screen for our prints to be verified. Initially, we sometimes had glitches. All of our fingers didn’t always read well, particularly if your prints weren’t as readable (elderly, musicians, construction workers, farmers etc.). Thankfully, there weren’t that many casual American travelers who wanted to-pay $100 per year for this service, so glitches weren’t as problematic. Last couple of years the kiosks progressed to facial recognition. It works better, but then one needs to really face the screen! Of course! But sometimes, people are shorter or taller than the particular screens viewing range….then requiring the entrant to adjust their height, or go to a different machine. Still there weren’t a lot of people using Global Entry, not enough, that is, to create a back-up. Can’t wait to see what happens when the masses have to use a similar, but hopefully better recognition system…. hopefully after my upcoming Camino trip!

Thanks for asking this, I'm planning on leaving for my Camino in April as well and that was on my list of things to check status on.

 

[MesaWalker]

We leave in April as well and return in June. The last I saw, ETIAS might go live while we´re in Spain/Portugal, which would be kind of interesting. We plan to sign up, if it´s possible, before we leave just in case it´s necessary to exit the EU in addition to entering the EU. But I´m not really sure it if has anything to do with exiting the EU.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

You just pay €7 pre travel and you get travel authority for 3 years! No boarding the plane without pre approval!

I’ve have not seen the machines in Europe but they have similar in Australia. You do your entry stuff at the machines and then pass through the immigration barriers without even speaking to an agent.

It will be free for the under 18s and over 70s - you'll still need it but won't have to pay.

 

[Gerdi]

Canada uses the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) for visitor visa free countries as a pre-requirement to travel to Canada. It is straight forward and takes minutes with answering questions, having the passport ready and an email address. Afterwards a very reasonable processing fee has to be paid.

And then there is biometrics, a process where finger prints, picture etc are taken. This is a process for people coming from countries needing a visitor visa for coming to Canada.

So, there is a clear extinction and the EU (Schengen) is doing with ETIAS the same thing. Means that for example Canadians, Americans, Australians will need to do only the ETIAS, which is the same as I described in the ETA. It continues to allowing to stay for 90 days within a 180 days period.

 

[Josefus]

IIRC one of the prerequisites to take part with this system is the possession of a passport which holds biometric information on a RFID tag such as fingerprints or facial information or even both.
Then the process on the immigration just verifies if it is the person who it claims to be and compares it with information you input before your journey.
No fingerprints or fotos have to be taken except when you apply for your (new) passport.

 

[Mycroft]

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en is the Website I reviewed, as well as a search on this website before asking again about the current status of ETIAS.

According to the website ETIAS is scheduled to start six months after EES. Does anyone have any idea when EES is now scheduled, again to start? I just booked a Camino flight for late April/May.


It is my understanding that once ETIAS is in place it will require us to be either fingerprinted or facial entry will be utilized? Is that correct? Personally, my experience with Global Entry in The USA would hope that the EU takes as much time as needed before implementing their system for the masses.

In the USA, I have used Global Entry for almost 10 years. Initially, it required us to be fingerprinted. When we arrived back inthe USA,instead of waiting on obnoxiously long lines at JFK, or EWR, we went to kiosks, put our passports in and then put our fingers on a glass screen for our prints to be verified. Initially, we sometimes had glitches. All of our fingers didn’t always read well, particularly if your prints weren’t as readable (elderly, musicians, construction workers, farmers etc.). Thankfully, there weren’t that many casual American travelers who wanted to-pay $100 per year for this service, so glitches weren’t as problematic. Last couple of years the kiosks progressed to facial recognition. It works better, but then one needs to really face the screen! Of course! But sometimes, people are shorter or taller than the particular screens viewing range….then requiring the entrant to adjust their height, or go to a different machine. Still there weren’t a lot of people using Global Entry, not enough, that is, to create a back-up. Can’t wait to see what happens when the masses have to use a similar, but hopefully better recognition system…. hopefully after my upcoming Camino trip!

I read an article a couple of weeks ago, which I promptly forgot--except for the UK's similar entry requirements that include EVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY TRANSITING (changing planes) and not leaving the airport you have to get the UK permit.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

A webpage on the europa.eu website gives some details about how biometrics will be used with ETIAS and EES:

When applying for an ETIAS travel authorisation, travellers will need to provide their personal information, including address, passport details, current occupation, and information about past travel to conflict zones or criminal convictions. No biometric data, such as fingerprints, is collected with ETIAS.

The EES, on the other hand, will collect travellers’ facial image and fingerprints. It will also collect travel document data as well as the date and place where the traveller entered and exited the territory of European countries using the system.​

See: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/key-differences-between-etias-and-ees-2023-06-06_en

 

[trecile]

I read an article a couple of weeks ago, which I promptly forgot--except for the UK's similar entry requirements that include EVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY TRANSITING (changing planes) and not leaving the airport you have to get the UK permit.

That's the same for people from out use the US who are only transmitting in the US. They need either an ESTA or a visa to transit.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

That's the same for people from out use the US who are only [transiting] in the US. They need either an ESTA or a visa to transit.

Off topic but let me add another quick warning to visitors to the US that don't want to buy a roundtrip ticket and use an onward ticket instead; it cannot be to certain neighboring countries. If you want more details see this post: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/pros-cons-of-one-way-flights.84344/#post-1205483

 

[BenoitCamino]

I read an article a couple of weeks ago, which I promptly forgot--except for the UK's similar entry requirements that include EVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY TRANSITING (changing planes) and not leaving the airport you have to get the UK permit.

After researching this recently, my conclusion is the same as the official statements and everybody else: nobody knows when EES/ETIAS will be implemented beyond "2025." But I did run into a good reference to the UK scheming to charge transiting passengers 10 GBP/13 USD at:

Heathrow Warns On Competitiveness If ETA Scheme Is Applied To Transit Passengers | Aviation Week Network

London Heathrow, named as the world's most connected airport, warns a new UK travel scheme will harm competitiveness if applied to transit passengers.

aviationweek.com

I stopped using UK transits after they excreted themselves from the EU, which removed the advantage my EU passport allowed. But I reluctantly transited through Heathrow in Oct 2024 due to scheduling reasons and was not impressed. I will never use the UK if they really do tax transit passengers.

Separately, I have used the Global Entry program for over ten years and it has been brilliant. The cost is now 120 USD for five years and most US credit cards refund the cost immediately. It has allowed me to reenter the US while barely break stride by walking through the facial recognition gate. It is very similar now to what the EU has used for entry for a number of years. Also, several airports in the EU are staffed by the TSA (Munich eg) which allows bypassing those very long lines for US bound flights.

As someone in the cyber security profession, there is an added and great advantage IMHO to Global Entry: the data are held by the government and not a private US company (such as Clear). Those private companies have been breached and their privacy policies are loose enough to allow resale of members' data. My eyeball is not for sale
Benoit

 

[Mycroft]

After researching this recently, my conclusion is the same as the official statements and everybody else: nobody knows when EES/ETIAS will be implemented beyond "2025." But I did run into a good reference to the UK scheming to charge transiting passengers 10 GBP/13 USD at:

Heathrow Warns On Competitiveness If ETA Scheme Is Applied To Transit Passengers | Aviation Week Network

London Heathrow, named as the world's most connected airport, warns a new UK travel scheme will harm competitiveness if applied to transit passengers.

aviationweek.com

I stopped using UK transits after they excreted themselves from the EU, which removed the advantage my EU passport allowed. But I reluctantly transited through Heathrow in Oct 2024 due to scheduling reasons and was not impressed. I will never use the UK if they really do tax transit passengers.

Separately, I have used the Global Entry program for over ten years and it has been brilliant. The cost is now 120 USD for five years and most US credit cards refund the cost immediately. It has allowed me to reenter the US while barely break stride by walking through the facial recognition gate. It is very similar now to what the EU has used for entry for a number of years. Also, several airports in the EU are staffed by the TSA (Munich eg) which allows bypassing those very long lines for US bound flights.

As someone in the cyber security profession, there is an added and great advantage IMHO to Global Entry: the data are held by the government and not a private US company (such as Clear). Those private companies have been breached and their privacy policies are loose enough to allow resale of members' data. My eyeball is not for sale
Benoit

I would prefer a Global Entry but over the last years, trying multiple times to set an appointment for the interview and getting nowhere (couldn't even get them to answer the phone), I gave up and just keep renewing my PreCheck. I live in the middle of nowhere, hours from the cities they list for interviews, so if you have any suggestions for obtaining an appointment, I'm happy to entertain them, and say thanks.

 

[BenoitCamino]

I would prefer a Global Entry but over the last years, trying multiple times to set an appointment for the interview and getting nowhere (couldn't even get them to answer the phone), I gave up and just keep renewing my PreCheck. I live in the middle of nowhere, hours from the cities they list for interviews, so if you have any suggestions for obtaining an appointment, I'm happy to entertain them, and say thanks.

This was a topic of conversation over the Thanksgiving dinner the other day. There were people at dinner who live near Denver who could never get an interview there. And it turns out that Albuquerque has so little interview business that Denverites are driving there because it is faster.

A family with kids at dinner are from Southwestern Colorado and they not only easily booked Albuquerque, they arrived early and they all got through before the first booking was scheduled.

So, I would suggest combining a trip with an interview if the nearer location is too busy. You can do so by flying, but the TSA offices are all outside of the security zone.

The interview is typically fast--after poking you to confirm that you are breathing, they take prints (on glass, no ink), take photo and you are out. My recent renewal was all online and there was no need for an interview. Renewal was granted in about a day and my old card was valid until the new one arrived in about 10 days.

Given you already have PreCheck, and that Global Entry grants PreCheck status, I would expect that your PreCheck would be extended to the end of the 5 year period for GE.
Benoit

 

[Marbe2]

This was a topic of conversation over the Thanksgiving dinner the other day. There were people at dinner who live near Denver who could never get an interview there. And it turns out that Albuquerque has so little interview business that Denverites are driving there because it is faster.

A family with kids at dinner are from Southwestern Colorado and they not only easily booked Albuquerque, they arrived early and they all got through before the first booking was scheduled.

So, I would suggest combining a trip with an interview if the nearer location is too busy. You can do so by flying, but the TSA offices are all outside of the security zone.

The interview is typically fast--after poking you to confirm that you are breathing, they take prints (on glass, no ink), take photo and you are out. My recent renewal was all online and there was no need for an interview. Renewal was granted in about a day and my old card was valid until the new one arrived in about 10 days.

Given you already have PreCheck, and that Global Entry grants PreCheck status, I would expect that your PreCheck would be extended to the end of the 5 year period for GE.
Benoit

Yes, coordinate a stopover city with your interview. Most renewals are done online less you have been flagged for some minor violation, or just randomly chosen for review.

 

[trecile]

I would prefer a Global Entry but over the last years, trying multiple times to set an appointment for the interview and getting nowhere (couldn't even get them to answer the phone), I gave up and just keep renewing my PreCheck. I live in the middle of nowhere, hours from the cities they list for interviews, so if you have any suggestions for obtaining an appointment, I'm happy to entertain them, and say thanks.

There are airports with Global Entry agents where you can do an interval on arrival after you receive approval for Global Entry.

Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival

Securing America's Borders

www.cbp.gov

When I was first approved I checked the website for appointments daily until there was a cancellation at LAX. It's not near my house, but my daughter lives there so we combined the interview with a visit to her.

 

[Tony Bobcat]

I don’t know the details but the process sounds pretty much the same as foreign nationals use to enter Australia, Canada and USA to name three. It’s really smoothed up the process. From confirmation post application within a few minutes to quicker times with border agents. Often don’t even have to get a stamp. Fingerprints are taken and you look into the camera. If you re-enter within a certain timeframe, your details are already on file. It would be uniform across all the relevant European countries I would imagine. It’s no surprise to me it’s has been delayed so many times. Trying to get so many countries aligned must be quite the task.

I certainly wouldn’t envisage any appointments! There no chance of that unless you need a visa.

Hello TravellingMan22.

We live in Australia and hold dual Citizenship (Maltese) passports. When we travel we leave Australia on our Australian passport and use our Maltese passport when entering Spain.
Do we need to do anything different now?

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Hello TravellingMan22.

We live in Australia and hold dual Citizenship (Maltese) passports. When we travel we leave Australia on our Australian passport and use our Maltese passport when entering Spain.
Do we need to do anything different now?

Apparently not because you would be EU citizens and the guidance I've seen says it's for people who aren't.

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/coming-visa-free-country-and-travelling-europe_en

FAQ

More

 

[Tony Bobcat]

Apparently not because you would be EU citizens and the guidance I've seen says it's for people who aren't.

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/coming-visa-free-country-and-travelling-europe_en

FAQ

More

Thanks for your help Jeff. Cheers

 

[Joynz]

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en is the Website I reviewed, as well as a search on this website before asking again about the current status of ETIAS.

According to the website ETIAS is scheduled to start six months after EES. Does anyone have any idea when EES is now scheduled, again to start? I just booked a Camino flight for late April/May.


It is my understanding that once ETIAS is in place it will require us to be either fingerprinted or facial entry will be utilized? Is that correct? Personally, my experience with Global Entry in The USA would hope that the EU takes as much time as needed before implementing their system for the masses.

In the USA, I have used Global Entry for almost 10 years. Initially, it required us to be fingerprinted. When we arrived back inthe USA,instead of waiting on obnoxiously long lines at JFK, or EWR, we went to kiosks, put our passports in and then put our fingers on a glass screen for our prints to be verified. Initially, we sometimes had glitches. All of our fingers didn’t always read well, particularly if your prints weren’t as readable (elderly, musicians, construction workers, farmers etc.). Thankfully, there weren’t that many casual American travelers who wanted to-pay $100 per year for this service, so glitches weren’t as problematic. Last couple of years the kiosks progressed to facial recognition. It works better, but then one needs to really face the screen! Of course! But sometimes, people are shorter or taller than the particular screens viewing range….then requiring the entrant to adjust their height, or go to a different machine. Still there weren’t a lot of people using Global Entry, not enough, that is, to create a back-up. Can’t wait to see what happens when the masses have to use a similar, but hopefully better recognition system…. hopefully after my upcoming Camino trip!

Some other countries have been using ‘smart gates’ or ‘e-gate’s’ with facial recognition and biometric passports for quite a few years now (e.g. Australia, NZ - where all passports issued have been automatically biometric passports for approx 10 years.

They have a couple of ‘footprints’ painted on the floor to indicate where to stand and it works quite smoothly. So, based on that experience, I expect the ETIAS version should work pretty smoothly…

 

[truthseeker]

I would prefer a Global Entry but over the last years, trying multiple times to set an appointment for the interview and getting nowhere (couldn't even get them to answer the phone), I gave up and just keep renewing my PreCheck. I live in the middle of nowhere, hours from the cities they list for interviews, so if you have any suggestions for obtaining an appointment, I'm happy to entertain them, and say thanks.

You can make an appointment to do the "interview on arrival," (which takes 15 minutes and is mainly for taking a photo of you and getting your fingerprints), at the airport you will use when you enter the US. Depending on the airport, there can be a lot of opportunity for you to do this. It is definitely worth doing. If you travel within the US and the airport you use is a port of entry, you can do the interview there. I landed in Newark and did it there. My husband did it when we arrived in Boston recently. The website has a listing of the port of entry airports.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

This post is also about the Global Entry program; skip it if not interested.

I only intended to see if our credit card would reimburse us for the Global Entry fee (nope) but their webpage had a link to Global Entry airports and I thought that would interest some of the previous posters. Following that link I could see an alphabetic list of those airports in the US, Canada, Bermuda and some Caribbean nations. It is at a US Customs and Border Protection website. There are a number of navigation crumbs and a menu at the top but there is also a "Travel +" clickable field that appears to offer the best information guide to related topics.

Airports with Global Entry

Securing America's Borders

www.cbp.gov

 

[brian560]

Hello TravellingMan22.

We live in Australia and hold dual Citizenship (Maltese) passports. When we travel we leave Australia on our Australian passport and use our Maltese passport when entering Spain.
Do we need to do anything different now?

I should think not. You are travelling on a Maltese passport so you are Maltese. Glad you are using both passports correctly. Some Oz citizens leave on their newly acquired foreign passport, ignore outgoing immigration advice to get an emergency Oz passport overseas and then return on an ETA. Three months later they are on the system as a visa overstayer.

 

[henrythedog]

@BenoitCamino

I stopped using UK transits after they excreted themselves from the EU,

At first I thought that may be auto-correct for ‘extracted’ or ‘excluded’; but on reflection I could go with that.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Hello TravellingMan22.

We live in Australia and hold dual Citizenship (Maltese) passports. When we travel we leave Australia on our Australian passport and use our Maltese passport when entering Spain.
Do we need to do anything different now?

Checked overnight with a friend in British Columbia. She holds both Irish and Canadian passports and says she uses just the Irish one for coming to and leaving Europe but had heard an anecdotal report of an Irish/Australian who used their Irish passport to leave France but presented their Australian passport when returning home. Got questioned by Australian passport control as to why there were no French entry or exit stamps on their Australian passport and why their Advance Passenger Information did not match that given to the carrier.

 

[TrvlDad1]

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en is the Website I reviewed, as well as a search on this website before asking again about the current status of ETIAS.

According to the website ETIAS is scheduled to start six months after EES. Does anyone have any idea when EES is now scheduled, again to start? I just booked a Camino flight for late April/May.


It is my understanding that once ETIAS is in place it will require us to be either fingerprinted or facial entry will be utilized? Is that correct? Personally, my experience with Global Entry in The USA would hope that the EU takes as much time as needed before implementing their system for the masses.

In the USA, I have used Global Entry for almost 10 years. Initially, it required us to be fingerprinted. When we arrived back inthe USA,instead of waiting on obnoxiously long lines at JFK, or EWR, we went to kiosks, put our passports in and then put our fingers on a glass screen for our prints to be verified. Initially, we sometimes had glitches. All of our fingers didn’t always read well, particularly if your prints weren’t as readable (elderly, musicians, construction workers, farmers etc.). Thankfully, there weren’t that many casual American travelers who wanted to-pay $100 per year for this service, so glitches weren’t as problematic. Last couple of years the kiosks progressed to facial recognition. It works better, but then one needs to really face the screen! Of course! But sometimes, people are shorter or taller than the particular screens viewing range….then requiring the entrant to adjust their height, or go to a different machine. Still there weren’t a lot of people using Global Entry, not enough, that is, to create a back-up. Can’t wait to see what happens when the masses have to use a similar, but hopefully better recognition system…. hopefully after my upcoming Camino trip!

I’m on the short side & had to adjust the screen to get a Global Entry reading, but now it adjusts to me. The last time I came through, the clearing agent was waving me over to his desk before I stopped in front of the machine. No paper receipt, my info just popped up on his screen and he waved me through. It just takes time for technology to smooth out. Hopefully, the EU uses a proven technology like GE.

 

[Marbe2]

I’m on the short side & had to adjust the screen to get a Global Entry reading, but now it adjusts to me. The last time I came through, the clearing agent was waving me over to his desk before I stopped in front of the machine. No paper receipt, my info just popped up on his screen and he waved me through. It just takes time for technology to smooth out. Hopefully, the EU uses a proven technology like GE.

Yes,something similar happened to us too. Now, last entry into EWR there was no one behind us on the GE line. The facial recognition worked on the screen after we entered info…..but no slip came out. I moved to another machine, still no receipt, to bring to the agent. Finally, I heard the agent, calling us, I looked about 10 yards to my right, and saw him waving us through. Now imagine if there were 300 people behind us from our flight!
Hey, I hope the new entry system runs well for all of us. But Ido anticipate delays when it’s first in operation.

 

[JabbaPapa]

So glad that my own European border crossings are all on foot.

 

[Joynz]

Yes,something similar happened to us too. Now, last entry into EWR there was no one behind us on the GE line. The facial recognition worked on the screen after we entered info…..but no slip came out. I moved to another machine, still no receipt, to bring to the agent. Finally, I heard the agent, calling us, I looked about 10 yards to my right, and saw him waving us through. Now imagine if there were 300 people behind us from our flight!
Hey, I hope the new entry system runs well for all of us. But Ido anticipate delays when it’s first in operation.

I can’t see why you’d need a receipt? Australia and New Zealand have been operating smart gates/e-gates for years now using facial recognition and biometric passports and it’s completely automated: place passport on the scanner then take the passport and move forward to stand on the painted footprints and look at the camera. Then the gates open a few seconds later. Process complete.
Was similar in the UK at Heathrow too last year. No receipts issued and no need to go to an actual person as well…unless there was a problem (or possibly random testing?)

 

[Kathor1]

Now, last entry into EWR there was no one behind us on the GE line. The facial recognition worked on the screen after we entered info…..but no slip came out.

Oh I see: EWR is the code for the Newark Liberty International Airport in the USA.

I thought that it was EWR - the European Economic Area's German abbreviation. That's all of the EU plus four other countries, all four of them also Schengen countries.

This thread is a bit confusing as it is about returning to your own country and going through some voluntary electronic gates on the one hand and about entering a Schengen country as a foreign national and mandatory electronic control - and we don't even know exactly how this electronic control will eventually work from a practical technical viewpoint because the EES system is neither operational nor has it undergone thorough onsite testing.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

This thread has become exhausting for me...just sayin'. I think I need to give it a rest; my head is spinning.

 

[Kathor1]

I just booked a Camino flight for late April/May.

For an arrival in Spain in late April/May 2025 if you do not present an EU passport or an EU residency card (these travellers are exempt from both ETIAS and EES), it is this:

*** ***

ETIAS: will not happen for you.
EES entry: could be mandatory for you when arriving at Barajas airport
EES exit: could be mandatory for you when leaving from Barajas airport
GE: is optional for you when arriving back home at an international airport in the USA

Ignore everything that you can currently read in the news about EES and ETIAS. There is likely to be an official announcement following a top level meeting in Brussels on 12-13 December where the EES is on the agenda. Government ministers from the 27 EU countries will be briefed "on the way forward for its start of operations".

Check only the official EU websites for EES and ETIAS if you want any information about these two systems. Here are the shortcuts for links to these websites, they are easy to remember:

- www.europa.eu/etias
- www.europa.eu/ees

*** ***

 

[dougfitz]

I can’t see why you’d need a receipt? Australia and New Zealand have been operating smart gates/e-gates for years now using facial recognition and biometric passports and it’s completely automated: place passport on the scanner then take the passport and move forward to stand on the painted footprints and look at the camera. Then the gates open a few seconds later. Process complete.
Was similar in the UK at Heathrow too last year. No receipts issued and no need to go to an actual person as well…unless there was a problem (or possibly random testing?)

If you use the smart gate, you will get a docket that you need at the scanning station and then the customs/quarantine checks along with your arrival form. I know that there were previous attempts at an app to replace the arrival form, but haven't checked recently. I have done the NZ equivalent, and the app seems to work quite well, so I am not sure what needs to be done here in Australia to get an app to work properly.

 

[Joynz]

If you use the smart gate, you will get a docket that you need at the scanning station and then the customs/quarantine checks along with your arrival form. I know that there were previous attempts at an app to replace the arrival form, but haven't checked recently. I have done the NZ equivalent, and the app seems to work quite well, so I am not sure what needs to be done here in Australia to get an app to work properly.

I don’t recall needing a receipt to go through the smart gate at Melbourne Airport last year…

 

[dougfitz]

I don’t recall needing a receipt to go through the smart gate at Melbourne Airport last year…

I wouldn't have called it a receipt, but when I have arrived at Smart Gate equipped airports in Australia, they have all had a three stage process.

• passport scan and screening questions about recent travel. A docket or slip is printed here that you take to the next two stages
• facial recognition using the biometric data on your 'smart' passport if you have one. Those without one go through another arrivals channel.
• customs/quarantine clearance after collecting your checked baggage, where your arrivals card and docket are checked and you are assigned a pathway depending on what customs or quarantine checks you will undergo. When you complete these, your arrivals card and the docket/slip are taken from you. This might be at the entry point to the customs/quarantine area, ie, you don't need to do any checks, and you leave the arrivals hall.

edit: @Joynz, I had a look at your posts (#26 & #35). What you described sounds very much like the departure process, where there is a single scanning gate, although there is some point where there is a check that you have a valid boarding pass to get into the departures area to start all that.

 

[TravellingMan22]

I wouldn't have called it a receipt, but when I have arrived at Smart Gate equipped airports in Australia, they have all had a three stage process.

• passport scan and screening questions about recent travel. A docket or slip is printed here that you take to the next two stages
• facial recognition using the biometric data on your 'smart' passport if you have one. Those without one go through another arrivals channel.
• customs/quarantine clearance after collecting your checked baggage, where your arrivals card and docket are checked and you are assigned a pathway depending on what customs or quarantine checks you will undergo. When you complete these, your arrivals card and the docket/slip are taken from you. This might be at the entry point to the customs/quarantine area, ie, you don't need to do any checks, and you leave the arrivals hall.

Thats pretty much my recollection for a couple of arrivals in the last couple of years on a UK passport from London into Sydney Airport. Am coming next month so will see again!

It’s a very smooth and fabulous process and creates a very good impression for visitors! It’s especially welcome as the flight often arrives at 0600ish local time so a swift process makes a big difference. Lots of mechines, lots of hosts and well organised, and through in a few minutes.

 

[Kathor1]

Smart Gate equipped airports in Australia, they have all had a three stage process.

• passport scan and screening questions about recent travel. A docket or slip is printed here that you take to the next two stages

This is interesting to read: That the Australian authorities ask Australian passport holders questions about recent travel.

Just to prevent possible confusion: Many comments in this thread are about e-gate systems in various international airports around the world. This is not what ETIAS and EES are about. The EES will scan the passports and personal details of non-EU citizens but not of their own EU citizens. There are no questions about recent travel to answer. There is no networking between EES and any Advance Passenger Information databases so the event described earlier for an Irish/Australian passport holder returning from France to Australia will not happen either.

Both private data protection including who is permitted to access databases and Advance Passenger Information systems are very sensitive topics in particular in some EU countries - this was one of the reasons why the legal framework for the EES took so long to negotiate between EU member states.

 

[dougfitz]

This is interesting to read: That the Australian authorities ask Australian passport holders questions about recent travel.

All arriving passengers get asked the same questions, some at the smartgates, the others by a border control officer. In my experience, they check if there are going to be special conditions attached to entry, even for Australians. Many years ago, I was required to quarantine at home after coming back from an area with yellow fever and I didn't have my IHC showing a current yellow fever innoculation. More recently, the questions have been about recent travel to other parts of the world, and supplement the standard questions that are on the arrivals card.

 

[VNwalking]

Well I guess we are increasingly using and getting used to facial recognition and it will/has become the norm. My phone is basically run on facial recognition, to get into apps, approve payments, etc. It’s something I use probably 100 times a day.

Some of us. I only use it at immigration counters.

 

[TravellingMan22]

All arriving passengers get asked the same questions, some at the smartgates, the others by a border control officer. In my experience, they check if there are going to be special conditions attached to entry, even for Australians. Many years ago, I was required to quarantine at home after coming back from an area with yellow fever and I didn't have my IHC showing a current yellow fever innoculation. More recently, the questions have been about recent travel to other parts of the world, and supplement the standard questions that are on the arrivals card.

Certainly the strictest country I have come across (in a good way), regarding the inspection of foodstuffs, etc lon entry. I remember lots of sniffer dogs! A friend of mine got fined for having an opened bottle of a fizzy drink 15-20 years ago! This focus seems to radiate through Australia society (it appears that way to an outsider anyway) with a strict focus on biosecurity and suchlike.

 

[ThingamaBrig]

What about on the camino itself? Do we need to carry our passports or is a copy good enough?

 

[Kathor1]

What about on the camino itself? Do we need to carry our passports or is a copy good enough?

Which document you need to present when checking into an albergue depends on your nationality: whether you are a Spanish national; or a foreign legal resident in Spain; or a national of another EU country; or none of the above. Questions about "can I use a copy of my passport" on this forum usually come from none of the above.

The answer is "no copy", btw, but there will be anecdotes of camino pilgrims with laminated photocopies of their passports and no objections to it from hospitaler@s.

But this question would be better dealt with in one of the current threads about the new Spanish decree 933/2021 about the Spanish hospitality sector's obligations concerning the national travellers register ...

 

[dougfitz]

This focus seems to radiate through Australia society (it appears that way to an outsider anyway) with a strict focus on biosecurity and suchlike.

We would get migrating birds to carry their immunization record if we could, and show that they won't be bringing in avian flu! Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand are free of many of the pest species, plant and animal diseases that exist elsewhere. We want it to stay that way for a variety of reasons like the protection of people, agriculture, aquaculture, etc from the threats posed if they were to enter the country.

 

[Sirage]

a strict focus on biosecurity and suchlike

Further to dougfitz's comment above, there is no biosecurity (or many things in life) if it isn't strict.

 

[TravellingMan22]

Further to dougfitz's comment above, there is no biosecurity (or many things in life) if it isn't strict.

Indeed. I think that is pretty obvious!

 

[Tincatinker]

What about on the camino itself? Do we need to carry our passports or is a copy good enough?

What were you planning to do with your passport if you weren’t going to carry it?

 

[TravellingMan22]

I assume an ID (original not photocopy) should be sufficient for Spanish / EU citizens.

 

[Sirage]

Indeed. I think that is pretty obvious!

I obviously agree, however it is not obvious, or even understood, by many, and not often implemented by politicians, of course, except in Australia and NZ, sometimes.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

What about on the camino itself? Do we need to carry our passports or is a copy good enough?

No copy

 

[Kathor1]

It is now certain that the introduction of the EES system in 2025 will be gradual.

The draft of the required piece of legislation was published a few days ago and this “proposal” as they call it will now go through the usual legislative process. Once completed and as soon as every country reports that they are ready, it will start. Further details are in the proposal.

Bottom line: As a traveller to Spain or any other country of the Schengen area, you don’t have to do anything before departure from your home airport. Upon arrival you may be asked to go through the EES channel or you may have your passport merely checked and stamped by a border official as before. This gradual phasing in will last for 6 months. The earliest possible date for the start of the ETIAS system is not yet fixed but it cannot be earlier than in the second half of 2025.

Commission proposed a progressive start of the Entry-Exit system

The Commission has proposed a progressive start of operations for Europe’s new digital border system, allowing border authorities and the transport industry to adjust to the new procedures. The EES will digitally record entries and exits of non-EU nationals travelling to the EU and Schengen.

home-affairs.ec.europa.eu

 

[ThingamaBrig]

No copy

Thank you!

 

[ThingamaBrig]

What were you planning to do with your passport if you weren’t going to carry it?

Put it for safe keeping along with some other luggage.
Generally that's the rule I follow when traveling - don't carry anything that's not absolutely essential.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Put it for safe keeping along with some other luggage.
Generally that's the rule I follow when traveling - don't carry anything that's not absolutely essential.

I would never leave my passport in unattended luggage.

 

[ThingamaBrig]

Which document you need to present when checking into an albergue depends on your nationality: whether you are a Spanish national; or a foreign legal resident in Spain; or a national of another EU country; or none of the above. Questions about "can I use a copy of my passport" on this forum usually come from none of the above.

The answer is "no copy", btw, but there will be anecdotes of camino pilgrims with laminated photocopies of their passports and no objections to it from hospitaler@s.

But this question would be better dealt with in one of the current threads about the new Spanish decree 933/2021 about the Spanish hospitality sector's obligations concerning the national travellers register ...

OK

 

[SabsP]

Put it for safe keeping along with some other luggage.
Generally that's the rule I follow when traveling - don't carry anything that's not absolutely essential.

I would think that this is an example that you would keep on your body / close to you at all times?

 

[ThingamaBrig]

I would never leave my passport in unattended luggage.

Good thinking.

In case you are are inferring that's what I would do, it's not. By safe keeping, I mean somewhere safe.

 

[ThingamaBrig]

I would think that this is an example that you would keep on your body / close to you at all times?

I was in Barcelona earlier this year, pickpocket capital of Europe according to some, and all the advice I read said to only keep on you what was essential.

I would keep my passport hidden in my luggage, which was locked up.
I would use a copy of my passport in all the hostels and hostels I went to. May 5% of the time they needed the real one.

 

[CTLawGal]

I would never leave my passport in unattended luggage.

I always keep it on my person, in a small dry sack with my pilgrim passport, always put it back in same internal pocket each time I have to take it out. I keep a photo of my passport on my phone in case I lose it. (and of course, the one time I almost DID lose it was at the Pilgrim Office in Santiago, I've written about that in some other post, so won't repeat that story here, ha!)

 

[Kathor1]

I would keep my passport hidden in my luggage, which was locked up.
I would use a copy of my passport in all the hostels and hostels I went to. May 5% of the time they needed the real one.

So you are already in Spain and you already knew the answer when you posted your question (copy or original of your own passport) because the
albergues, hostels and hotels along the Caminos are subject to the same laws about registering guests as those in Barcelona and elsewhere in Spain. And the hospitaly staff behaves the same way everywhere: Some are better trained or more conscientious than others.

 

[C clearly]

This thread has exhausted the original topic and moved on to safekeeping of passports, and requirement for checkin at albergues. I will close it now. Members are welcome to start a new thread if they wish to discuss one of these topics, but a search of the forum will provide plenty of related reading material!