People planning to travel to EU countries should reserve sufficient time for immigration clearance on arrival, as it is launching its automated Entry/Exit System (EES) on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Department of European Affairs Director Eric Huang (黃鈞耀) said that the European Commission has announced that the EES would be launched on Sunday, although it is to be rolled out over six months for the 29 countries of the Schengen area, with full implementation expected by April 10 next year.
The EES electronically registers entries and exits by non-EU nationals, as well as entry refusals, across European countries that use the system, the EU’s official Web site says.
Photo: AFP
The system applies to non-EU nationals traveling for a short stay, the Web site says.
People traveling to Europe should pay close attention to the government Web sites of Schengen area members, we well as other nations in the region, to keep up with the latest rules and travel information, Huang said.
“During the [six-month] rollout of the EES, travelers should also reserve sufficient time for entry immigration clearance, to protect their own rights and interests,” he said.
With the EES operating, travelers must register their biometric data, including facial images and digital fingerprints, with the system to be able to use the self-service kiosks and e-gates for automated customs and immigration clearance services, he said.
Holders of Taiwanese passports have been eligible to use the e-gates when entering three Schengen area member countries — the Czech Republic, Italy and Germany — but after the EES is deployed, travelers must register their biometric data with the new system before they would be able to use the e-gates, he said.
However, the Czech Republic is temporarily suspending its e-gates due to system integration issues, Huang said.
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