A new travel system is set to be introduced later this year impacting Brits travelling to countries in the European Union (EU) such as Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal.

The EU is set to introduce the new Entry/Exit System (EES) in October which will replace the manual stamping of passports to visitors to certain countries.

The EES, according to the House of Commons Library, will be: "An automated IT system for registering travellers from non-EU countries, including the UK, each time they cross a border into or out of the EU."

Travellers will be required to scan their passports or other travel documents at an automated self-service kiosk prior to crossing the border instead of having their passport stamped manually, which is the current procedure.

The EES will register a person’s name, type of the travel document, biometric data (fingerprints, captured facial images, etc.) and the date and place of entry and exit.

The Bolton News: The EU is set to introduce the new Entry/Exit System later this year.The EU is set to introduce the new Entry/Exit System later this year. (Image: Getty Images)

Countries where the new EES will be introduced

The new EES will be introduced in 29 European countries, according to the House of Commons Library.

These 29 countries are:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

The Bolton News: Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Greece will be among the countries where the new system will be introduced.Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Greece will be among the countries where the new system will be introduced. (Image: Getty Images)

Travellers exempt from using the EES

There will be some travellers that will be exempt from using the EES upon its introduction later this year.

People exempt from using the EES, according to The Mirror, are:

  • Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national
  • Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen
  • Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer
  • Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing
  • Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
  • Those exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (heads of state, cross-border workers, etc.)

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When will the new travel system come into force?

The introduction of the EES has been delayed a number of times, according to the House of Commons Library.

It was first set to be launched in 2022 and then it was pushed back to May 2023. 

Now, the new EES is set to be rolled out on October 6, 2024, reports The Mirror.