The rule will have an effect on British holidaymakers heading to Greece.
Greece has suspended biometric checks at borders for UK holidaymakers travelling to Greece (Picture: Getty)
The UK Overseas, Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace (FCDO) has confirmed a brand new passport rule for holidays to Greece following a change.
The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (ESS) to enhance border safety inside the EU is now being carried out throughout the Schengen space. Beneath the brand new system, UK vacationers are required to register biometric particulars, together with fingerprints and a facial picture, at European borders earlier than entry. The system, which is ruled by EU regulation and applies to non-EU nationals, has been regularly launched since final 12 months and have become totally operational in 29 European nations on April 10.
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However Greek authorities have confirmed they won’t acquire fingerprints and photographs for UK travellers as a part of EES, permitting holidaymakers to skip the biometric scanning system on the border.
In a press release on its web site, the Embassy of Greece in London stated: “We want to inform you that inside the framework of the implementation of the brand new Entry/Exit System (ESS) as of April tenth 2026, British passport holders are excluded from biometric registration at Greek border crossing factors.”
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It signifies that British passport holders at the moment would not have to hold out EES biometric registration at Greek borders and border workers will as a substitute proceed to maintain stamping UK passports by hand.
The transfer goals to scale back ready instances and ease congestion at airports because the busy summer season vacation season approaches.
Confirming the passport rule for entry into Greece, the FCDO stated: “Greek authorities have indicated that they won’t acquire biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) for UK travellers as a part of EES.
“Observe the recommendation of authorities on the bottom. In case you are resident in Greece, ensure that to indicate your residence documentation at passport management to make sure you aren’t registered in EES.”
The choice by Greek authorities to droop biometric checks for UK vacationers travelling to Greece has been praised by Jet2, with the airline calling on different locations to comply with swimsuit and droop EES checks “till processes and programs are prepared”.
The airline stated it has flights and holidays on sale by way of 15 Greek airports this summer season, representing greater than 3.5 million seats, and this transfer is predicted to “considerably enhance the arrival and departure expertise”.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, stated: “We applaud the Greek authorities for appearing in the most effective pursuits of UK holidaymakers. Our clients work and save very laborious for his or her holidays, and we’ll at all times do every part in our energy to make sure they’ve the easiest expertise once they journey with us.
“We consider that pausing EES checks, till programs and processes are prepared, will lead to a a lot better expertise for our clients and we’re happy to see that the Greek authorities agree.
“We anticipate a fast response by way of demand for holidays to Greece on account of this transfer, and we urge different nations to comply with this commonsense method and put holidaymakers first.”
Andreas Fiorentinos, secretary common of the Greek Nationwide Vacationer Organisation, added: “Following Jet2’s latest announcement welcoming Greece’s choice to quickly droop biometric checks for British travellers below the EES system, Greece reaffirms its dedication to offering a clean and visitor-friendly journey expertise.
“Tourism stays a prime authorities precedence and a key pillar of the Greek economic system. Particular thanks are as a consequence of Overseas Minister George Gerapetritis for his swift and efficient intervention, which helped guarantee environment friendly procedures for UK guests. UK holidaymakers are important to Greek tourism, and facilitating their journey to Greece stays a strategic precedence for the nation.”
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