SCOTTISH holidaymakers may need to provide proof of medical insurance and return tickets when travelling to Europe this autumn under strict new border rules.
UK airline, ferry and rail passengers will also face fingerprint and facial scans when crossing borders under a new entry/exit system (EES) for arrivals into the European Union come October 12.
Passport stamps for non-EU citizens will be replaced by biometric checks as the scheme is set to be rolled out over six months, with full implementation expected by April 2026.
The UK is no longer a member of the European Union, ever since England and Wales voted to back Brexit in 2016. A majority of voters in Scotland voted to stay in Europe.
Under the new rules, those who refuse to provide biometric data could be denied entry to the EU and dedicated booths are set to be installed across airports, train stations and ports for visitors to provide the data.
According to reports from The Independent, alongside the provision of biometric data, tourists from the UK could be expected to confirm select details of their trip, such as proof of accommodation, medical insurance, financial stability for the duration of the stay and a return or onward ticket.
Questions will be answered at automated kiosks, but “no” responses may prompt referrals to border officers for human checks.
Agents have been able to ask such questions from British passport holders since Brexit, but many have only challenged select passengers. However, this may change when the new scheme launches in the autumn.
Director of public affairs at the travel trade body Abta, Luke Petherbridge, told The Independent: “More people are going to be asked these questions in the future than were in the past because most EES checks will be done at a kiosk.
“Its primary function is digitising the border. If you were to answer one of these questions in a way that you know wasn’t aligned with the answer they were looking for, you would be sent to a border guard. You wouldn’t necessarily be denied entry.”
A record of any provided biometric data will be valid for three years. The new system was originally supposed to be implemented in November 2023, but concerns over long queues saw the rollout postponed.
The UK Government has already warned tourists to prepare for long waits during busy periods when the scheme officially launches.
EU officials have said the changes will lead to a reduction in illegal immigration and help strengthen border security. A new travel authorisation system is also set to be introduced in 2026 alongside the new EES checks.
The new authorisation process will mean UK tourists must apply for authorisation to enter the Schengen area, which covers 29 countries including popular holiday destinations like Spain, Greece, Germany and France.
Under this process, passengers must pay a €20 fee and provide personal information, as well as details about their travel plans.
Post-Brexit rules already limit UK residents to maximum stays of 90 days within 180-day periods, unless an individual has EU residency or work rights.
A UK Government spokesperson told The Independent that questions asked by EU border agents are “not new” and that the Government had been “working closely” with member states and travel industry figures to ensure EES “registration is simple for anyone travelling to the Schengen area”.
