EU to Implement Biometric Border Checks for Travellers from October โฃ12
Brussels, โขBelgium – Fromโ Sunday,โค October 12, travellers to the European Union will be โขsubject to new biometric border checks requiring the submission of fingerprints and photographs.โ The changes apply to โฃnon-EU citizens, including Australian tourists, and are partโค of enhanced security measures at โคthe โbloc’sโข borders.
The process is free of charge. Travellers will also be asked to โanswerโค questions based on the Schengenโค Border Code โupon arrival. While the registration process is expected to take only a โขfew minutes, authorities warn of potential for longer wait times at airports as the โฃsystem โฃis implemented.
The european union anticipates minimal disruption,โ however, the British government has advised travellers to allowโ extra time for their journeysโข while the new systems become fully operational. Borderโ officials retain the ability โto temporarily suspend checks ifโฃ processing times become โexcessive.
These new checks are a preliminary step towards further changes planned forโ 2026 with the introduction of the European โTravel โDetailsโฃ and Authorisation โSystem (ETIAS).ETIAS will requireโฃ non-Schengenโ area citizens โขto obtain authorisation prior to travel, providing personal and โtrip details andโ paying a โฌ20 ($35 AUD) fee. This authorisation โคwill be valid forโ three years or until passport expiry, whichever occurs first.
ABC/Reuters