Greece scraps EES for all British passport holders

Under the new system, travellers must register their biometric information, which means having their fingerprints scanned and photographs taken.

They must also answer questions about their visit, such as whether they have somewhere to stay, enough money for their trip and a return ticket.

People visiting or leaving one of the 29 countries in Europe’s Schengen area (mostly the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) usually have to do the new checks.

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However, Brits going to Greece will not have to follow this process amid the new rules.

Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, has revealed that anyone with a British passport will be able to avoid the checks, The Independent reports.

She said the move aims to ensure “a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece”.

Travellers can expect to spend less time waiting around at airports, as she said the move “is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports”.

Ms Skarveli told the newspaper: “Practically, this means that the entry process in place before the implementation of the EES will remain unchanged.”

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A date when the change comes into effect has not yet been confirmed.

Newsquest has approached the Greek National Tourism Organisation for comment.

How long does the EES take?

Ahead of the launch of the new EES, the Home Office urged travellers to expect “longer wait times at border control”, while Advantage Travel Partnership advised visitors to southern Europe to “allocate four hours for navigating the new system”.

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How long will EES registrations last?

EES registrations will last three years.

Any subsequent border crossing within that period will require an individual’s fingerprints and photograph to be verified, which is expected to be quicker than when they are registered.

Have you used the new EES? Let us know what you think about it in the comments.