WHAT HAS CHANGED FOR TRAVELLERS?
AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB OF COUNTRIES
The Schengen Area comprises 29 countries that allow travellers to move freely across internal borders without passport controls. These include 25 European Union member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The external borders of these countries, however, are protected by an automated Entry Exit System, also known as the EES.
PROTECTING BORDERS
The automated Entry Exit System or EES rules directly affect almost all travellers from countries outside the Schengen area. This includes all tourists, business, and transit passengers. When travellers from any third countries enter any Schengen-listed countries, for the first time, they will be required to provide biometric data, a facial image and four fingerprints. On subsequent entries, they will simply scan their travel document at any electronic kiosk. Once their identity is confirmed, using a type of recognition software, they will automatically be granted entry and will no longer receive a passport stamp. An electronic automatic visa will be issued to their travel document instead.
CYPRUS & UK PASSPORT HOLDERS
Republic of Cyprus passport holders, like the citizens of the 29 EES countries, are not required to register for the system. United Kingdom passport holders, on the other hand, are considered third-country nationals and will be required to register their details.
The 29 Schengen member countries are
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
